Housesitter

Last updated

Housesitter
HouseSitterpromoposter.jpg
Promotional one-sheet poster
Directed by Frank Oz
Screenplay by Mark Stein
Story byMark Stein
Brian Grazer
Produced byBrian Grazer
Starring
Cinematography John A. Alonzo
Edited by John Jympson
Music by Miles Goodman
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • June 12, 1992 (1992-06-12)
Running time
101 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$26 million [2]
Box office$94.9 million

Housesitter is a 1992 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Oz, written by Mark Stein, and starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. The premise involves a woman with con-artist tendencies who worms her way into the life of a reserved architect by claiming to be his wife.

Contents

Plot

Newton Davis (Steve Martin) is a struggling architect. After building his dream house for himself and his longtime girlfriend Becky (Dana Delany) in his hometown, he is crushed when she refuses to marry him. He is unable to bring himself to live in the house, and leaves it abandoned and with a debt he cannot afford. Three months later, Newton meets a waitress named Gwen (Goldie Hawn) at a Hungarian restaurant in Boston. Believing that she cannot speak English, he spills out his sob story about Becky and the abandoned house. After the restaurant closes for the night, Newton learns she merely pretended to be Hungarian, and can speak English. He walks her home, which turns out to be a small apartment upstairs at the restaurant. They end up having sex.

The next morning, Gwen finds that Newton left in the middle of the night. However, he unintentionally left behind the drawing of the house he'd built for Becky. Interest piqued by the drawing, Gwen takes a bus ride out to see the house. She is charmed by it, and decides to move in. Gwen goes to the town's general store, where she charges her groceries to the "Newton Davis" account. When questioned about this, Gwen, who it becomes clear is a natural liar, says that she is Newton's wife. Gwen meets Becky, and spins a lengthy romantic story about how they fell in love, which surprises and impresses Becky. Gwen also meets Newton's parents, who are heartbroken that Newton got "married" without telling them, but Gwen manages to smooth things over with them with her charm.

Soon after, Newton travels to his hometown and is shocked to see that his house is lived in. When he finds out what Gwen has done he is initially furious, but he soon sees the potential in her being there. Gwen starts creating all sorts of opportunities for Newton: mending his relationship with his parents, helping out with his career by befriending Newton's boss and highlighting his long-ignored talent, and making Becky jealous. Newton and Gwen come to an agreement in which Gwen will help Newton win Becky, and in return she'll get all the furniture in the house. Through their time together, Newton begins to rely more on Gwen beyond their agreement, and Gwen starts to feel attached to her life with Newton. It is also revealed that Gwen became a compulsive liar in order to escape from what she feels is her own inadequate background, and that she has "changed" her life numerous times.

The film culminates with a reception held at the house in which the sub-plots of Newton's career, family and affections for Becky are brought together. Annoyed with Becky for her superior and suspicious attitude, Gwen confronts her in front of everyone, accusing her of trying to win Newton back. Gwen storms out of the house in tears, and Newton follows her, thinking it is still part of the plan. Outside alone, Newton praises Gwen for her brilliance, but Gwen replies that she wanted their marriage to work. Her feelings for him are apparent. Newton's boss gives him the promotion. Newton watches, confused, as Gwen leaves. Becky takes the opportunity to make a move on Newton, and asks whether all of Gwen's elaborate stories were real. Newton answers that they were all true and chases after Gwen.

Newton stops Gwen as she is about to board a bus to leave town. Although she resists, Newton follows her example and begins telling an outlandish romantic story of something they "did", which makes Gwen decide to stay. The film ends on the note of Newton and Gwen being happily married and living together in the house. As Newton and Gwen go into the house together, the final spoken words are of Newton saying "I love you, Gwen" and Gwen replying, "Actually, it's Jessica."

Cast

Production

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the house featured in the film was designed by New York architects Trumbull & Associates. [3] Christopher Lukenbeal's 1995 master's thesis A Geography in Film, A Geography of Film cites Debra Wassman of Trumbull: "the house is the real star of the film". The 1800-square-foot, three-bedroom home, built in the beautiful town of Carlisle, won the House Beautiful/American Wood Council Award for Best Small House of 1990 and blueprints were available for purchase from Princeton Architectural Press. [4]

The role of Gwen Phillips was initially offered to Meg Ryan, who pulled out due to creative differences. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Principal photography ran from August to October 1991, and took place in Massachusetts, with filming locations including Boston, Concord, Carlisle, and Cohasset. [9]

Release and reception

Housesitter received mixed reviews from critics, as it holds a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews. [10] Noted film critic Roger Ebert, gave it three stars saying, "this is one of [Goldie Hawn's] best performances" and praised her and Steve Martin's impeccable comic timing. [11]

Vincent Canby of The New York Times opined that the film is "a cardboard vehicle in which Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn ride up front, doing what each does with great talent and occasional vigor, and a lot of very able character actors sit in the back, kibitzing and adding local color." [12] Gene Siskel wrote that the film was "a one-note comedy with screwball aspirations [that] is amusing while it sets up its premise [and then] attempts to recycle the premise into a story." [13] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times called the film "an occasionally amusing screwball farce made by people whose screws are barely loose at all." [14]

The film was released theatrically on June 12, 1992, after being moved back from an initial May 8 release date, [9] and performed reasonably well for a low-key comedy film. It earned $9.1 million on its opening weekend and $58.5 million for its entire domestic theatrical run, grossing a total of $94.9 million worldwide. [15] [16]

The film was released on DVD on July 22, 1998 and eventually on Blu-ray on April 16, 2019.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldie Hawn</span> American actress (born 1945)

Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress. She rose to fame on the NBC sketch comedy program Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968–1970), before going on to receive the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Cactus Flower (1969).

<i>Private Benjamin</i> (1980 film) 1980 film by Howard Zieff

Private Benjamin is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Howard Zieff, written by Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, and Harvey Miller, and starring Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, and Armand Assante.

<i>Foul Play</i> (1978 film) 1978 film by Colin Higgins

Foul Play is a 1978 American romantic neo-noir comedy thriller film written and directed by Colin Higgins, and starring Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Dudley Moore, Burgess Meredith, Eugene Roche, Rachel Roberts, Brian Dennehy and Billy Barty. In it, a recently divorced librarian is drawn into a mystery when a stranger hides a roll of film in a pack of cigarettes and gives it to her for safekeeping.

<i>My Blue Heaven</i> (1990 American film) 1990 American comedy film

My Blue Heaven is a 1990 American crime comedy film directed by Herbert Ross, written by Nora Ephron, and starring Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and Joan Cusack. This is the third film in which Martin and Moranis starred together. It has been noted for its relationship to Goodfellas, which was released one month later. Both films are based on the life of Henry Hill, although the character is renamed "Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli" in My Blue Heaven. Goodfellas was based on the book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, while the screenplay for My Blue Heaven was written by Pileggi's wife Nora Ephron, and much of the research for both works was done in the same sessions with Hill.

<i>The Sugarland Express</i> 1974 film by Steven Spielberg

The Sugarland Express is a 1974 American crime drama film directed by Steven Spielberg in his theatrical debut. The film follows a woman and her husband as they take a police officer hostage and flee across Texas while they try to get to their child before he is placed in foster care. The event partially took place, the story is partially set, and the film was partially shot in Sugar Land, Texas. Other scenes for the film were filmed in San Antonio, Live Oak, Floresville, Pleasanton, Converse and Del Rio, Texas.

<i>Seems Like Old Times</i> (film) 1980 film by Jay Sandrich

Seems Like Old Times is a 1980 American comedy film starring Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Charles Grodin, directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Neil Simon. It was the only theatrical film directed by Sandrich, who was best known for his television sitcom directing work.

<i>Overboard</i> (1987 film) 1987 film by Garry Marshall

Overboard is a 1987 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, written by Leslie Dixon, starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, and produced by Roddy McDowall, who also co-stars alongside Edward Herrmann and Katherine Helmond. The film follows a demeaning, wealthy socialite who suffers from amnesia after falling from her yacht while vacationing on the Oregon coast, only to be taken in by a working-class carpenter whom she mistreated.

<i>Town & Country</i> (film) 2001 film by Peter Chelsom

Town & Country is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Chelsom, written by Buck Henry and Michael Laughlin, and starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Garry Shandling, Andie MacDowell, Jenna Elfman, Nastassja Kinski, Charlton Heston, and Josh Hartnett. Beatty plays an architect, with Keaton as his wife, and Hawn and Shandling as their best friends. It was Beatty's and Keaton's first film together since 1981's Reds, and Beatty's third film with Hawn, after 1971's $ and 1975's Shampoo.

House sitter may refer to:

<i>Protocol</i> (film) 1984 film by Herbert Ross

Protocol is a 1984 American comedy film starring Goldie Hawn and Chris Sarandon, written by Buck Henry, and directed by Herbert Ross. Hawn plays a Washington, D.C., cocktail waitress who prevents the assassination of a visiting Arab emir and winds up a national heroine.

<i>Wildcats</i> (film) 1986 film by Michael Ritchie

Wildcats is a 1986 American sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie and starring Goldie Hawn, James Keach and Swoosie Kurtz. It is the film debut of Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.

<i>CrissCross</i> 1992 American film by Chris Menges

CrissCross is a 1992 American drama film directed by Chris Menges and written by Scott Sommer, based on his homonymous novel. It stars Goldie Hawn, Arliss Howard, Keith Carradine, Steve Buscemi, and David Arnott.

<i>The Out-of-Towners</i> (1970 film) 1969 film by Arthur Hiller

The Out-of-Towners is a 1970 American comedy film written by Neil Simon, directed by Arthur Hiller, and starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. It was released by Paramount Pictures on May 28, 1970. The film centers on the many troubles George and Gwen Kellerman encounter as they travel from their home in suburban Ohio to New York City, where George, a sales executive, has a job interview.

<i>The Out-of-Towners</i> (1999 film) 1999 film by Sam Weisman

The Out-of-Towners is a 1999 American comedy film starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. It is a remake of the 1970 film of the same name written by Neil Simon and starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.

<i>Swing Shift</i> (film) 1984 romantic drama war film by Jonathan Demme

Swing Shift is a 1984 American romantic drama directed by Jonathan Demme, and produced by and starring Goldie Hawn, with Kurt Russell. It also features Christine Lahti, Fred Ward, Ed Harris and Holly Hunter, in one of her earlier movie roles. The film was a box office bomb, grossing just $6.6 million against its $15 million budget. Lahti earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

<i>Cactus Flower</i> (film) 1969 film by Gene Saks

Cactus Flower is a 1969 American screwball comedy film directed by Gene Saks, and starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman and Goldie Hawn, who won an Academy Award for her performance.

<i>Best Friends</i> (1982 film) 1982 feature film directed by Norman Jewison

Best Friends is a 1982 American romantic comedy film starring Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. It is based on the true story of the relationship between its writers Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin. The film was directed by Norman Jewison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Stein (author)</span> Author

Mark Stein is an American writer.

<i>Snatched</i> (2017 film) 2017 film by Jonathan Levine

Snatched is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Katie Dippold. The film stars Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn, with Joan Cusack, Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes, and Christopher Meloni in supporting roles, and follows a mother and daughter who are abducted while on vacation in South America.

<i>SPF-18</i> 2017 American film

SPF-18 is a 2017 USA coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Alex Israel in his directorial debut. Israel co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Berk. The film stars Carson Meyer, Noah Centineo, Bianca A. Santos, Jackson White, Molly Ringwald and Rosanna Arquette, and is narrated by Goldie Hawn.

References

  1. ↑ "HOUSESITTER (PG)". British Board of Film Classification . May 12, 1992. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ "HouseSitter (1992) - JPBox-Office".
  3. ↑ Trumbull & Associates are listed as the architects in the film's credits.
  4. ↑ "Copies of Dwelling in 'Housesitter' Are Going up Across U.S." July 5, 1992.
  5. ↑ "STEVE MARTIN'S YELLOW HOUSE IN "HOUSESITTER"". Hookedonhouses.net. June 7, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  6. ↑ Wuntch, Philip (September 17, 1992). "Strike 1, You're Out: These Were The Stars That Weren't". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  7. ↑ "MEG RYAN LEAVES CAST OF 'HOUSESITTER'". Deseret News . June 26, 1991. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ Wuntch, Philip (June 12, 1992). "Casting About: Which Star Is In, Which Is Out". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Housesitter (1992)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute . Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ Housesitter at Rotten Tomatoes
  11. ↑ Roger Ebert. Housesitter Chicago Sun-Times .
  12. ↑ Canby, Vincent (June 12, 1992). "Review/Film: Housesitter; Likes Him, Loves His Home". The New York Times . Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  13. ↑ Siskel, Gene (June 12, 1992). "Housesitter Never Gets Beyond The First Story". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  14. ↑ Turan, Kenneth (June 12, 1992). "Housesitter: A House of Cards". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  15. ↑ Fox, David J. (June 16, 1992). "Weekend Box Office : 'Patriot,' 'Sister' Lead the Pack". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  16. ↑ Housesitter at Box Office Mojo
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.