ONE FINE DAY
US, 1996, 108 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Pfeiffer, George Clooney, Alex D. Linz, Mae Whitman, Charles Durning.
Directed by Michael Hoffman.
Take a harassed architect and single mother. Take a harassed executive and single father. Make them clash as they come too late for their kids' excursion and take turns in looking after the kids (with a variety of mishaps) and before the fine day is over, they are in love and will live happily every after. Well, it's not quite as formula as that because Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney can exude screen charm and make the whole thing a fairly agreeable frothy pastime. Sweetness and romance.
1. A '90s romantic comedy? The tradition of the screwball comedy of the '30s and '40s? The sparring of hero and heroine? The old-time models (Tracy, Hepburn etc) and the more contemporary partners?
2. The New York settings? Apartments, offices, the streets, the atmosphere of New York City? The musical score and its range? The song: `One Fine Day'?
3. The title, echoing the song, the day for Melanie and Jack - and for their children? The initial clash and the day ending with romance?
4. The plausibility of the plot? The busy upwardly mobile professionals? Single parents? Their relationship with their children? Their work? The pressures from both sides? Difficulties in coping? Mishaps?
5. Melanie and her lifestyle, not sleeping well, with her son, preparing him for school? The hurry in the morning? The hectic day, the presentation and the possibility of losing her job? The needing of a lift for Sammy to go to school? Hurrying, being late, on the wharf, missing the trip? Melanie and her anger with Jack, the clash? Taking Sammy to the office? Sammy and his causing chaos, her tripping over and breaking the model?
6. Jack, his work, the journalism, Maggie and his ex-wife being away? The importance of his day, the source for the story about political corruption? Forgetting about the lift? Hurrying to the boat, Maggie and missing the trip? The two children and their clash?
7. The antagonism between Jack and Melanie? Their having to look after their children - the aftermath of the chaos in each office? The decision to go to the drop-in centre? The drugs, the fights? Their wanting to look after the children better? The agreement about sharing?
8. Jack and his taking the two children, the enjoyment, the passing of the day? Melanie and her being late, his anger with her? The going off to the mini-football?
9. The sketching of the characters of the children, their initial clash, their relationship with their parents? The upheaval in the offices? At the shelter? The adventures and enjoyment of the day?
10. Melanie and Jack and their appreciating each other, falling in love? Melanie and her ex-husband at the game? His jealousy?
11. Jack, at home, discussion with Maggie, realising that Melanie likes him? Going over? The evening together, settling their differences? Talking, kissing? The irony of his falling asleep? Her falling asleep after the busy day?
12. The popular ingredients of the battle of the sexes? The tensions of the workplace? The harassment of single parents? The background of their work and expectations of the bosses? Antagonism moving towards love? The blend of screwball comedy and sentimentality?
