A Real Meathead Production

Turns out Archie Bunker was right, Rob Reiner IS a meathead.  Oh, I know he got lots of kudos for directing "When Harry Met Sally", a blatant theft from the Woody Allen playbook, but that movie at least had believable chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.  Unfortunately"And So It Goes", Reiner's most recent attempt  at directing,  has NO chemistry, no discernible plot or credible premise, an abundance of hopelessly cliched characters and absolutely zero reason to go see it.  It's  

 awful.

Michael Douglas will obviously do anything to get out of the house.

The only reason my wife and I had for wasting a couple of hours on this steaming pile of celluloid offal was a need to be out of our house as realtors dragged curious clients through the hacienda.  The day was hot, a movie in a "real" theater seemed an inspired idea; so off we went.   Looking for a picture with any relevance for people over 40 is a challenge.  You're lucky to find anything even remotely relatable on a screen at the local multiplex.  Apparently Hollywood has decided that the only path to box office riches is through tales of monsters, car crashes, teenage angst, raunch and heartbreak, and dependable full length.animation features for the kiddies.  Humans from the adult world are assumed to be unable to leave their homes for more than a trip to the doctor's office or the "early bird special" at Denny's.

Carl is a genius., his son, not so much.

It's the old chicken and egg dilemma.  Do adults stay home because there are so few movies for them, or are there few movies for adults because they won't leave the house to see them?  I give Reiner credit for trying,  but why was he willing to settle for such bad material?  Cardboard characters and tired gags seem lazy and uninspired.  Who writes crap like "And So It Goes"?  It turns out that a guy named Mark Andrus typed out this technicolor turd.  Good information to have on hand the next time you're tempted to take in a flick.

"Come see our movie, it's Craptacular!"

Michael Douglas is Oren Little the grumpy old man of the production.  Apparently Jack Nicholson has aged out of the geezer rom/com formula.  Diane Keaton, as Leah,  tries valiantly to make you believe she is a working lounge singer who actually gets paid to perform nightly at the local watering hole.  (Please raise your hand if you know of any real live 68 year-old glasses wearing grandmas currently making a living warbling in a saloon with a three piece back-up.)  Naturally, she being a widow and he a widower, they must "meet cute" and develop an improbable relationship.  Throw in a son on his way to stony lonesome, a darling granddaughter, smartass co-worker, wacky neighbors, a pregnant lady about to pop and a Reiner cameo featuring a toupee that looks like a bad Wham-O toy and you've got yourself a movie--a REALLY BAD MOVIE.

It's disgusting enough that theaters now subject paying customers to tons of commercials and previews that only make the experience seem like you never left the house, but there is no excuse for cringe inducing material.  I don't recall another movie that made me actually feel embarrassed for everyone involved until I sat through this bomb.  Which is precisely why I fully expect to see it GO from theaters in a week or two to find its home on a major airline where walking out makes a real statement.

Just in case you are having trouble catching my drift…Don't go see this movie!  Ask your grandkids what they want to see; it's bound to be better.   e.e. Cummings once said: "The most wasted of all days is the one without laughter."  Don't waste a second on this Rob Reiner cinema steamer.

Wishing she still worked for Woody Allen.