Shirley MacLaine may think she's God, but she's still a damn good actress. No movie showcases that fact like Terms of Endearment, which also features amazing performances from Jack Nicholson, Debra Winger and Jeff Daniels (yes, even more Oscar-worthy than his role in Dumb and Dumber). It is one of those rare movies that lives up to the make-you-laugh-make-you-cry hype, that is sad and uplifting at the same time.
The movie centers around Winger and MacLaine, as mother and daughter, and their relationships, both with each other and the other people in their lives. As Terms of Endearment begins, Winger is about to be married to Daniels, which MacLaine warns her will lead to her downfall. It eventually does, of course, but she doesn't listen, and within a few years' time, she and Daniels have three children and are living over a thousand miles away from home.
In her daughter's absence, MacLaine realizes she needs physical satisfaction and begins dating the next door neighbor (Nicholson), an ex-astronaut who spends most of his time drunk and/or hitting on women. The two characters are a strange but interesting match. MacLaine is obsessive and complains about a lot of little details, and Nicholson is brash and sometimes offensive but a decent guy underneath. Their chemistry provides for a lot of the warm-hearted laughs in the movie.
Winger's life with Daniels is less than ideal. His devotion lies mostly with his career as assistant professor at a nearby college. The more time that goes by, the less time Daniels is spending at home, which leads Winger to wonder if he's having an affair, and eventually contemplate one of her own with John Lithgow, who's not getting much loving at home either.
Terms of Endearment is a perfect mix of drama, comedy, romance and sentiment which comes on just as strongly as it needs to without seeming cliched or forced. The acting and direction are brilliant throughout, especially with the ending, which is sad as can be. I'll just say there's a reason Debra Winger isn't in the sequel, which is a shame. Her acting work here is as good as or better than that of Oscar-winners Nicholson and MacLaine, even if she isn't God.
Terms Of Endearment dazzled critics and audiences alike with its believable, insightful story about two captivating people, mother and daughter, unfor...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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