Something's Gotta Give (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Something's Gotta Give
film poster
Directed by	Nancy Meyers
Written by	Nancy Meyers
Starring	Jack Nicholson Diane Keaton Keanu Reeves Frances McDormand Amanda Peet
Music by	Hans Zimmer
Distributed by	Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures (USA) Warner Bros. (non-USA)
Release date(s)	December 12, 2003 (U.S. release)
Running time	128 min
Language	English
IMDb profile

Something's Gotta Give is an American movie released in 2003. It is not to be confused with 1962's Something's Got to Give.

1 Summary
2 Main characters
3 Reception
- 3.1 Awards (3)
- 3.2 Nominations (7)
4 External links

[edit] Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Harry Sanborn is a wealthy New York businessman who has a habit of dating women under 30. When he and his latest conquest, Marin Barry, drive to her mother's Long Island beach house on the coast, however, his life turns upside down.

Expecting to be alone, Harry and Marin are surprised by Marin's mother, successful playwright Erica Barry, and her sister Zoe (Frances McDormand). After an awkward dinner, the night turns disastrous when—during foreplay with Marin—Harry has a heart attack and is rushed to hospital. The handsome young doctor, Julian Mercer , tells Harry to stay in the area for a few days, and so Harry ends up staying with Erica. Their differing personalities initially make for awkward living arrangements, until the two begin to get to know each other.

Soon, the two have fallen in love, however their very different lifestyles—Erica's determination to be single and independent, and Harry's constant desire for new women and experiences—combined with the fact that Harry is dating Marin and Julian has fallen for Erica, leave the two struggling to deal with their current relationships with others, but also work on their own. Marin soon breaks up with Harry after she suspects that he's in love with her mother. However, the break up is not out of anger, but rather she wants her mother to be able to have a relationship with him and for her own life to move on. Harry and Erica spend yet more time together and the relationship they have with each other gets even more serious. However, Harry's improving health means that he no longer has to stay with Erica, and in a very awkward decision, he heads home.

Meanwhile, Marin receives news that her father, Erica's ex-husband who she still allows to direct her plays is getting remarried. Although Erica is unaffected by the news, Marin is devastated, exhibiting self-centred behaviour which implies that she is the only one this concerns. She pressures her mother into going to dinner with Marin to see her ex-husband and his new fiance. At the dinner Erica is the life of the party until she sees Harry at another table with another woman, and is crushed, because she realizes that she still loves him. Harry spots Erica and tries to convince her that the woman was just a friend and that they weren't in a relationship. In the argument that follows, Harry suffers from what he believes is another heart attack and is rushed to the hospital where he is told that it is only a panic attack but he must rest if he doesn't want to end up in the hospital every week. The female doctor tells him that if he was her 'Dad' she would not want him out alone so soon after a heart attack, clearly emphasising his age. Harry goes home in an attempt to get some rest.

Erica on the other hand, also goes back home and breaks down to tears. However, although she is heartbroken, she figures that the events that are happening in her own life, would be great to use in a play, and thus she starts to write a play on the whole experience. While at lunch with a friend, Harry hears her ramble about a new play that she heard of and starts to summarize it while explaining how funny it is. Harry nearly chokes when he realizes the play is about him and rushes to the stage where it is being rehearsed, and sees Erica. They don't manage to heal the wounds that have been made however and Erica tells Harry to get on with life.

The story then opens up six months later in Paris where Erica is spending her birthday with her new boyfriend, Julian, who she met when Harry had his first episode. Harry shows up to the restaurant where she is eating because of an agreement they made earlier, that they'd spend their birthdays (which were both in February) together in Paris. Harry and Erica are extremely happy to see each other and once again realize how much they love each other. Erica's boyfriend however interrupts when he enters the restaurant a little late. They never have time to really tell each other their true feelings until hours after the dinner.

While Harry is gazing over a canal in the Paris night, Erica pulls up in a taxi. She gets out and explains to Harry that Julian figured that they both still loved each other. Harry and Erica kiss and it's assumed that they get married. The movie resumes about a year and a half later at another restaurant in New York. Erica and Harry are eating out with Marin and her now husband with their year old daughter.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Main characters

Harry Sanborn (played by Jack Nicholson), an older, successful businessman and owner of the second largest hip-hop label in the world
Julian Mercer (played by Keanu Reeves), a younger medical doctor who works in a hospital
Marin Barry (played by Amanda Peet), a beautiful young auctioneer for Christie's
Erica Barry (played by Diane Keaton), Marin's mother, a successful playwright