IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
A divorced man falls in love, but somehow he can't get over his ex-wife. This affects his love life in comic ways. Based on Dan Wakefield's novel.A divorced man falls in love, but somehow he can't get over his ex-wife. This affects his love life in comic ways. Based on Dan Wakefield's novel.A divorced man falls in love, but somehow he can't get over his ex-wife. This affects his love life in comic ways. Based on Dan Wakefield's novel.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 7 nominations total
Jay O. Sanders
- Larry
- (as Jay Sanders)
Mary Catherine Wright
- Student 1
- (as Mary C. Wright)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOriginally director Alan J. Pakula did not want Burt Reynolds for the Phil Potter part, feeling he was not the right type: he wanted a New York-trained actor along the lines of Al Pacino or Dustin Hoffman. But Reynolds lobbied hard for the role, and Pakula finally let him audition. After two auditions, Reynolds had the role, and Pakula subsequently has praised his work in the film.
- GoofsDuring an outdoor grade school carnival, bathing suit-clad Marilyn participates in a dunk tank concession in the dead of a Boston winter. In reality, she would freeze.
- Quotes
Michael Potter: [to crowd observing Phil's anxiety attack] Anybody have a Valium?
[everyone in crowd reaches into purses and pockets]
Featured review
This well made adaptation of Dan Wakefield's novel has wonderful comic moments and full-bodied performances. Burt Reynolds underplays his role and does some of the finest work of his roller-coaster career (it's up there with "Boogie Nights" and "Deliverance"). Candice Bergen is hysterical in the role of the wife who wants freedom and a singing career. (Little did we know in 1979 that Bergen would go onto great comedic success as Murphy Brown)James L. Brooks does a terrific job with the screenplay - the divorced men's group scenes really ring true and the moment when they have to leave their community center space so the women's divorce group can then use the room is uncomfortable and very funny. In my opinion, Clayburgh gives an up and down performance, sometimes really connecting with Reynolds and other times she just seems to be impersonating Diane Keaton. Fine supporting work by the always reliable Charles Durning and Austin Pendleton. This film is very hard to find in video stores for some reason. I just happned to catch it again on cable and was pleasantly surprised with how well it holds up.
- How long is Starting Over?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $35,649,012
- Gross worldwide
- $35,649,012
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