Seems Like Old Times **** (1980, Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Charles Grodin) – Classic Movie Review 6808

Ah, it does seem like old times, with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase, back in the good old days! Director Jay Sandrich’s 1980 comedy is one of umpteen movies written by Neil Simon and produced by Ray Stark in a rich and profitable collaboration. It stars Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase and Charles Grodin, and is one of the funniest films from either Hawn or Chase.

Chase plays clodhopping Nicholas ‘Nick’ Gardenia, who is on the loose as a fugitive after being kidnapped and forced to rob a bank, causing calamities in a house overflowing with dogs, cats and obstreperous servants. Hawn plays his ex-wife, public defender lawyer Glenda Parks, tearing her heart out after he seeks her help. Grodin plays her new husband, Ira Parks, the future district attorney of California, whom Chase wants to chase away, with career-damaging results.

Simon’s attempt at an old-times madcap comedy may be none too subtle, but it is entirely amusing, with an inventively extended plot and an outpouring of witty, funny dialogue. The on-form stars work extremely well together, and there is a choice collection of character actors: Robert Guillaume, Harold Gould, George Grizzard, Yvonne Wilder, T K Carter, Judd Omen and Marc Alaimo, along with Bill Zuckert and Jerry Houser as gas station attendants and David Haskell and Chris Lemmon as policemen.

Seems Like Old Times is directed by Jay Sandrich, runs 102 minutes, is released by Columbia, is written by Neil Simon, is shot by David M Walsh, is produced by Ray Stark and is scored by Marvin Hamlisch.

The home they used is 242 Avondale Avenue, Los Angeles.

Hawn and Chase previously made the memorable Foul Play (1978) together.

Simon and Stark made 11 movies together: The Sunshine Boys (1975), Murder by Death (1976), The Goodbye Girl (1977), The Cheap Detective (1978), California Suite (1978), Chapter Two (1979), Seems Like Old Times (1980), The Slugger’s Wife (1985), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986), Biloxi Blues (1988) and Lost in Yonkers (1993).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6808

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