The Best of Times ** (1986, Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Pamela Reed, Holly Palance, Donald Moffat, M Emmet Walsh, R G Armstrong) – Classic Movie Review 7654

Director Roger Spottiswoode’s 1986 The Best of Times is the first of three 1986 flop films that the late great Robin Williams made in his own worst of box-office times, playing Jack Dundee, a mild, bespectacled bank vice-president, living in Taft, California, intent on re-staging the 1972 high-school football game that he feels he could win this time round.

Even the equally likeable Kurt Russell as Jack’s old team buddy Reno Hightower cannot help the congenial Williams to save the day here.

In Ron Shelton’s story, Jack has trouble convincing Reno and the town to replay the game, needing to assure them that history won’t repeat itself. Back in 1972, Jack dropped a perfect pass from quarterback Reno, and the game against Bakersfield ended in a tie.

Britain’s Spottiswood directs forlornly, downed by Ron Shelton’s warm-hearted and well-meaning but flat and unsparky screenplay.

After Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) and Dead Poets Society (1989) made Williams a popular success again, The Best of Times finally got a belated British video release but there were not many takers in the UK for an American football movie. To be fair, it was a little bit popular in the US, taking $7,790,000 on a $12 million budget.

It is a PG-13 (US) and 15 (UK) for swearing and suggested sex.

Holly Palance (daughter of Jack Palance), who was the wife of Roger Spottiswoode (9 April 1983 – 1997) (divorced, two children), appears in a major supporting role as Elly Dundee, Jack Dundee’s wife.

Also in the cast are Pamela Reed as Gigi Hightower, Reno Hightower’s wife, Donald Moffat, M Emmet Walsh, R G Armstrong, Kirk Cameron, Donovan Scott, Margaret Whitton, Dub Taylor, Carl Ballantine, Kathleen Freeman, Tony Plana and Robyn Lively.

The Best of Times is directed by Roger Spottiswoode, runs 104 minutes, is made by Cinema Group Ventures and Kings Road Entertainment, is released by Universal, is written by Ron Shelton, is shot in Technicolor by Charles F Wheeler, is produced by Gordon Carroll, and is scored by Arthur B Rubinstein.

Williams followed it with Club Paradise (1986) and Seize the Day (1986).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7654

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