Max Dugans Moneten (1983)

Max Dugans Moneten: Directed by Herbert Ross. With Marsha Mason, Jason Robards, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Broderick. An English teacher and struggling single mother has her life disrupted when the father who abandoned her as a child comes back into her life.

“I remember as a kid being intrigued by the ad for this movie, with its cartoon image and its stick-in-the-head tagline (u0026quot;Prices are double. Your love lifeu0026#39;s in trouble. The car wonu0026#39;t start. Your boss has no heart. The door squeaks. The roof leaks. Your stereo just went mono. All you need is a little Max Dugan.u0026quot;) But the movie disappeared quickly, and it seemed to have vanished completely, since I never remember it coming on television. I was surprised that it received a DVD release, since there was nothing to indicate it had built a cult. Anyway, I decided to finally watch it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlthough itu0026#39;s branded as a comedy, it really isnu0026#39;t. Yes, there is the occasional one-liner, but mostly itu0026#39;s a light-hearted drama. And a charming one at that. Neil Simon wrote some very likable characters, even down to the ones who show up quickly and disappear never to be seen again in the movie. The cast could not be better. Broderick in his debut performance tones it down compared to how annoying he became when he was older. Sutherland is believable as a cop who has feelings for the woman in his life yet still feels he has his duty as a cop. Robards and Mason, who have most of the focus, are also good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe movie isnu0026#39;t without problems – there are a few spots where the characters seem unusually dim-witted – but overall itu0026#39;s a sweet movie that will make you feel good at the end. Give it a try.”