On C List of Movie Reviews

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California Suite (1978)

Rate: 6
Viewed: 6/16

CaliSuite
6/16: Despite Neil Simon's great writing, California Suite is an uneven comedy picture for the most part.

Some of the best lines are as follows:

"Gorgeous color. The smog. I wonder if they sell it in bottles. It would make a wonderful present for the folks back home."

"Now, we all got whiplash. Okay, honey?"

In response to "Billy boy. How's the new script coming?", "I found all the words in the dictionary. I just have to put 'em together."

"I'm not the one with the Bobbsey Twin haircut and the Peter Pan phraseology."

"Can we go? I feel like we're playing From Here to Eternity."

"You drank everything in this state. Try Nevada."

There are four parallel threads, and the best of them is with Michael Caine and Maggie Smith. To be honest with you, it has been him all along. What a great performance. The way Michael Caine delivered his lines with indifference is priceless. Maggie Smith was already dying, unable to keep up with him. How didn't he get nominated for an Oscar? The others, except for Richard Pryor who has his moments, are either average or bad (I'm looking at you, Bill Cosby).

All in all, California Suite is worth watching for the dialogue and, most of all, Michael Caine.