The Four Seasons

Stories like this one can only exist in fiction. The reason is that in real life, after the summer vacation, the three couples would have had nothing to do with each other ever again. In this movie they still get together two more times. But since this is a movie, I can ignore that. Instead I thought the movie was pretty funny. Alan Alda seemed to be spoofing the fact that at the time he was considered to be the stereotypical sensitive male by having everyone getting fed up with his psycho-analyzing. Though in three of the vignettes, water plays a factor, I can't figure out what it supposed to mean. With the exception of Bess Armstrong's meltdown (and then she goes running all night?), the verbal explosions were realistic and not the least embarrassing to watch. And how about the Alda sisters getting to insult each other? In summary, a funny film about the trials of long-term marriages and friendships.

I recall this film being rather successful upon its original release in 1981 and decided to check it out. Lots of good elements at play here: most of the performances are quite good, Burnett, Moreno, and Weston are all thoroughly enjoyable. The score and scenery are pleasant as well. The issue is the script feels contrived and not as realistic as was intended, and becomes preachy and stilted. Nothing against Alda, but he injects too much of himself into this project to the level that he diminishes what he is trying to create. Despite the several positives, The Four Seasons mostly disappoints.

Alan Alda the actor has come up with a few worthwhile projects over the years as a writer and director. This movie, his feature directorial debut, is quite enjoyable. Three upper-middle class couples are seen during the four vacations they take annually. They enjoy each others' company, but a fissure in the friendships begins to grows when one man tires of life with his wife and introduces his new, younger girlfriend into the group, and things go from there. Alda manages very successfully the balance between comedy and drama, aided by the excellent cast of veterans. All the principals here (the first seven listed in the credits) do fine work.

THE FOUR SEASONS (1981) *** Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Jack Weston, Len Cariou, Sandy Dennis, Bess Armstrong. Alda, who wrote and directed, assembles a veteran cast of colorful couples spending their quarterly vacations together during one memorable year of change and confrontations of middle age craziness with deft and frequently funny aplomb. The choice to use Vivaldi's `Four Seasons' and the beautiful scenery only underscores the theme perfectly. Trivial note: the college-aged girls the group visit for parents' day are actually Alda's real-life daughters.