Wordiezett So much average

Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

a_chinn Charming 1960s generational sex comedy is very much of it's time, but also timeless in it's humor around age and romance. Adapted from a Broadway play by Billy Wilder's longtime co-writer I. A. L. Diamond ("The Apartment," Some Like it Hot," "One, Two, Three," etc.), "Cactus Flower" tells the story of dentist Walter Matthau and his young girlfriend Goldie Hawn. Matthau has told Hawn he's a married man, even though he's really not, and when he tells her he wants to leave his wife, Hawn says she wants to meet Matthau's non-existent wife. Enter Matthau's 50-something spinster receptionist, Ingrid Bergman, who he convinces to pose as his wife so he can seal the deal with Hawn. The film has the same (for it's time) edgy sexy comedy humor that Wilder and Diamond films were known for (and by some reviled for), reminding me somewhat of "Kiss Me, Stupid," except that this film has a more liability factor than "Stupid," which although was funny also had a bit of a creep factor to it. Hawn won an Oscar for her portrayal of a cute young hippie chic, but for me it was Bergman who really shines. Her characters is introduced as a rather stern and austere character, but once she's pulled into Matthau's lies, Bergman's reserved 50-something characters comes to life. The scene where she cuts loose on the dance floor at a go-go club is a joy to watch as such exudes all of her charm and star power in a way that reminds you that not all actors are created equally and some have an innate ability to light up the screen. That scene was intended to create drama for Matthau's character to begin to be torn between the two women, and although Bergman was 54-years old at the time, she is probably one of only a few actresses who could manage to outshine a young Goldie Hawn. On the downside, I would say director Gene Saks has rather flat direction and lacks the sparkle of a Wilder picture, but Diamond's script and dialogue crackles, standing alongside the best of Wilder and Diamond's collaborations. Overall, "Cactus Flower" is a charming sex comedy that's a wonderful showcase for it's wonderful three lead actors and is a must see for film comedy fans.

Steve Pulaski Gene Saks' Cactus Flower is an electric little comedy gem, buoyed by great lead performances, unmistakable chemistry amongst its cast, and a genuinely pleasant feeling of not knowing where the material is headed. The film is headlined by Walter Matthau, an amiable and always welcome presence, playing Julian Winston, a dentist living comfortably within his means with a little something on the side. He has been seeing his mistress Toni (Goldie Hawn) for quite sometime. In order to get out of the relationship, Julian lies and tells Toni that he is married with three children. Depressed and out of options, she resorts to a cheap suicide attempt that fails due to her caring neighbor.Upon learning about Toni's suicide attempt, Julian has seemingly no choice other than to get back with her and predicating the relationship off another lie, this one being he plans on divorcing his wife in order to be with her. She can kind of believe that, but requests a dinner-date with his wife, who, of course, Julian doesn't have. He winds up getting his receptionist Stephanie Dickinson (Ingrid Bergman) to play his wife, despite her being very straight- laced and of a no-nonsense type. As one can infer, this web of lies only extends itself, and Julian, along with Stephanie, become entangled in something they can't detach themselves from.This material may sound familiar to some, being that this particular film was just remade into the abysmal comedy Just Go With It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. The film was simply not funny, and relied more on humor derived from situations and far- fetched antics rather than the nuances brought forth by its actors. With Saks, a brilliant director of lengthy conversations, behind the camera and I. A. L. Diamond writing, this particular effort becomes a classy and rousing little farce that sticks true to its Broadway roots. Saks more than established his credibility with long takes, depictions of sharp, biting dialog, and uproarious situational comedy with The Odd Couple prior to this picture. Starring Matthau alongside Jack Lemmon, nobody in front or behind the camera seemed to be able to do any wrong. The film was constantly entertaining and always alive, even if some scenes in one particular setting with relatively basic takes lasted an upwards of twenty- five minutes. Here, he brings that same kind of conversational simplicity and fun to this particular project, always finding hilarious things for his three leads to say and to do.Yet it would take a lot of effort to cheapen and soften veteran actors like Matthau, Bergman, and Hawn. The highlight here is Bergman, who proves to any of her naysayers she had at the time about her genre-diversity that she can not only do comedy but perform hilarious deadpan comedy. Consider a scene when Bergman's Stephanie is on a "date" with her "boyfriend" in a bar. Staged by Julian so that Toni can notice the two, Stephanie is clearly turned off by the man she's set up with - a long time customer at the dentist office - and she takes every opportunity she can to subtly insult or belittle the man. "Why not take a sip, dear, it may make me look better to you," he says. "There's not enough wine in the world," she replies.And one cannot forget Hawn, whose performance here scored her an Oscar in 1969. Hawn is her usual lively, perky self, whose character is more than meets the eyes. One can dismiss her as naive and gullible, but the efforts she takes to either identify that Julian is lying to or just to learn information proves her character isn't as stupid as she seems.Cactus Flower gets by on actor-chemistry along with acting talents rather than humor based on strained circumstances. It is total comedy from the 1960's, focusing on sharp dialog and character, rather than cheap jokes and immaturity. Assisted heavily by the wise talents of Saks but made the show it is thanks to its actors, the film is a lively blend of talent from every corner or the grid.Starring: Walter Matthau, Goldie Hawn, and Ingrid Bergman. Directed by: Gene Saks.

Armand in childhood it was one of my favorite movies. basic seduction tool - the flower of cactus woo remains a beautiful metaphor. than , after years, it becomes one of my most lovely comedies. for acting, for script, for something else who can be a form of magic. situations, dialogs, links between characters - ingredients of an old fashion film ever-green.it is a delight and each acting remains a gem. because it is not a problem of humor but, first, science, impeccable science of seduction. each actor has his shell but , like a puzzle, the final image is perfect. talent of director, art of actors and the viewer as part of whole story. and nothing is missed.

JasparLamarCrabb A feather weight sitcom stretched out into a feature film. Walter Matthau is a womanizing dentist who throws his conquests off by claiming to be married. When he finds himself smitten with kooky Goldie Hawn, he recruits his spinsterish nurse (Ingrid Bergman) to play his "wife," in order to convince Hawn he's getting a divorce. Mayhem ensues. There's lots of wisecracks in what is essentially a filmed play (Abe Burrows wrote the play, I.A.L. Diamond did the screenplay). Most of the funniest lines come from Jack Weston, as one of Matthau's less savory patients. Bergman is fun and it's great to see her playing in a comedy. Matthau is Matthau and Hawn (who won an Oscar) brightens up a story that could have been pretty dull stuff. Quincy Jones did the score, but listen for a number of songs from other Columbia products (TO SIR WITH LOVE; THE MONKEES) playing in the discotheque scenes. Directed by Gene Saks.