Surrender

Surrender

Surrender

I found this on Prime. The cast looked great. Did they really not have better offers than this lame script? I know they have to pay their bills too, but such a waste of talent. I tried fast forwarding to advance the plot, but I had to give up. Too painful to watch these actors try to make something of this absurd storyline. I found this on Prime. The cast looked great. Did they really not have better offers than this lame script? I know they have to pay their bills too, but such a waste of talent. I tried fast forwarding to advance the plot, but I had to give up. Too painful to watch these actors try to make something of this absurd storyline.

"Surrender" is a rom-com from director/writer Jerry Belson. And, according to him, much of what you see in the film actually happened to him...though in real life the events weren't so funny. When the story begins, you see that writer Sean Stein (Michael Caine) is very bad at picking women. Again and again, the relationships fail and he's now determined NEVER to be with a woman again. A short time later, Stein is at some charity event when the strangest and funniest meet-cute occurs. All the folks at the event are forced to strip naked...and then they are tied together. Sean is tied up to an equally naked Daisy (Sally Field). Their meeting...to say the least...is quite awkward! The next day, despite his commitment to have no more women in his life, Sean appears at Daisy's house to ask her out on a date. But to prevent her from taking advantage of him like other women, he tells her he is poor. Despite this, they hit it off well and soon are a number. But there is a problem...Daisy's old boyfriend, a commitment phobe himself, suddenly returns to her life and wants to marry her. What is going to happen next? The best thing about this comedy is its oddness...and I mean that in a good way. It's not conventional in the least and has a few very funny moments. It's also, despite the commitment problems and lying, a cute romance...however, the notion of Sean lying...well, that might turn off some viewers, that's for sure! But, despite this, I did enjoy the film thanks to the very unconventional script and some nice acting.

The opening scene of this light screwball comedy is not for those who are against modern divorce laws. Successful author Michael Caine is taken to the cleaners by a legitimate wife and a common law wife, then ripped off by a prostitute he only wanted to talk to. So when he meets struggling artist Sally Field who seems sincere, it seems to be love at first sight, since they are tied up naked literally after the sheik party they are at is invaded by a group of robbers. He finds out where she lives, and gets her to go out with him, claiming to be broke so if he can confirm that she's the one. Odd to say the least. One issue is that she's got an attorney boyfriend (Steve Guttenberg) who whines constantly which is perhaps why she's so easy in cheating on him with Caine who longs for romance. Two veteran scene stealers co-star, with Julie Kavner delightful as Field's co-worker at a cheap painting factory (fun to watch how these assembly line paintings come together) and Peter Boyle as Caine's shyster attorney. Field has a champ of a wealthy father with old rascal Jackie Cooper in his last film. The situation is absurd, but Caine and Field have terrific chemistry and apparently having a terrific time working together again, also once again not a hit, but certainly not the disaster of "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure". In spite of all the implausibilities, the film is so good natured that it's hard to criticize beyond the obvious. Some of the situations are shocking in a modern sensibility, but it's presented in a way where laughs are unavoidable, especially the elevator choice that Caine has to make.

Jerry Belsen, who directed and wrote this movie, along with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Fun With Dick and Jane amongst many others, may have invented the phrase "You know what happens when you assume..." Sean Stein (Michael Caine) is a successful novelist, but he's been through so many divorces and bad relationships that he never wants to fall in love again, until he has his meet cute with artist Daisy Morgan (Sally Field) when they're forced to strip and bound together by thieves at a charity dance. Yes, this actually happens. Working with his lawyer Jay (Peter Boyle), Sean decides to hide who he is and actually win Daisy over with no money being involved. The problem is that she already has a boyfriend, the not so great Marty (Steve Guttenberg). Then she finds out who Sean really is and tells him that she truly loves him. The problem is that he still thinks it's all about money. This will rinse and repeat throughout the movie. At least this has an interesting cast, with Jackie Cooper in his last role as Daisy's father, along with Julie Kavner, Louise Lasser and Iman. Supposedly, this movie is based on Belsen's real life, with him claiming that every single thing that happened to Sean happened to him. Sadly, that experience could not help the death throes of Cannon, as this movie made $5 million on a $15 million budget.

Sally Field has such a rapport with the camera that movie audiences immediately relate to her highs and woes; it's gratifying to see her in a sunny, upbeat comedy, and one almost wants to let "Surrender" pass just on the basis on Field's energy and charisma alone. Alas, it's a film built on such an overworked premise--love and money--that goes off into so many perplexing directions, it results in being one of Sally's weakest movie vehicles. Michael Caine does what he can with silly role of wealthy writer taken to the cleaners by women over the years, meeting assembly-line artist Field and pretending to be poor (but of course, she's the one pure lady who wouldn't care if he had money or not). There are some interesting bits in the film: a date to the airport--to watch the planes fly overhead--is curious and amusing (and looks good on film) and the embarrassing way in which the two lovers meet. But not enough wit was put into the basic make-up of the story, which plays like something from the Doris Day-Rock Hudson generation. That's OK if the picture has the wit and snap of "Lover Come Back", but "Surrender" is terribly insecure and unsure of itself. ** from ****

Successful writer Sean Stein (Michael Caine) had been taken to the cleaners over and over again. First, he let his wife win due to his guilt about his mistress. Next, he's giving up another half to the mistress. He even gets robbed by a hooker. Now, he's gunshy with women. He's moving to Kuwait where women can't vote. Daisy Morgan (Sally Field) is a frustrated artist forced to mass produce hotel room paintings. She's stuck dating unscrupulous lawyer Marty (Steve Guttenberg) who refuses to commit. Both Sean and Daisy happen to be at a large fundraiser when robbers break in and strip everyone naked. Sean and Daisy are forced tied together. I remember the elevator scene. I think I remember a few other scenes. It may be from the trailer. More likely, I saw the movie and forgot it. There's a reason to forget this. I don't like Sean and this movie is bothersome. I do like everybody initially. Sally Field is always adorable. Michael Caine can be very fun but when he starts pursuing Daisy, he becomes a stalker and a bit creepy. He needs to hit the cute button rather than the creepy button. The meet-cute is pretty cute but it goes downhill from there. The money issue keeps interfering with the rom-com. The basic premise is problematic for its romance and its comedy. It's in the movie's genes. I'm sure that Jerry Belson thinks that this is funny for all those divorced guys out there but I'm not sure that it's funny for anyone else.

I've scoured the internet trying to find this on DVD. The chemistry between Michael Caine and Sally Field is outstanding. I don't know if the following line would be called a spoiler....I don't think so I just think of it as one of many funny incidents that happen in this flick. It is the scene where they are tied up together (naked) so funny. Steve Guttenberg as a spoiled rich guy is funny as well. I can't believe this movie hasn't been done on DVD. I've seen so many movies that shouldn't be on DVD. This movie is so much better than those. I believe if given the chance this movie would do well on DVD. If I can't get it that way, I may get desperate enough to get the VHS version...hope it doesn't come down to that. Whoever you DVD gods are, I hope you do this one SOON!

Three very likable stars do a great job with an old movie premise...for about two-thirds of the film. Girl falls in love with wealthy man pretending to be poor, discovers his deception, feels betrayed....etc. etc. Sound familiar? It is, and Fields, Caine and Guttenburg do a great job...for a while...but even these three can only take a tired story line so far. The show fall apart after the slot machine scene, and try though they may, the cast is unable to eradicate it from the toilet bowl. There are some extremely funny scenes, especially Guttenburg's post-shower phone call with a client, and a lot of double entendre, but sadly, the whole thing comes apart at the seams.