tlavideo.com

Review

Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning play loses some of its luster in this appealing if uneven adaptation. Two adolescent brothers go to live with their stern grandmother (Worth) and endearing, slow-witted aunt (Ruehl). As a childhood remembrance, the film is funny and sweet, with Stoll and Damus as very likable youths. Halfway through, however, the film runs out of energy, and even a canister of Simon one-liners is not sufficient to give it a full recharge. Worth gives a gallant characterization, but she's such a one-note holy terror, the film plays like Throw Grandmamma from the Train whenever she's on screen. Ruehl gives an earnest performance as Aunt Bella, whose child-like innocence endows her with pathos and charm.