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Plot Summary
Playwright Neil Simon turned to the hotel setting he used so successfully in his stage-play (later a movie) Plaza Suite to explore four more human dramas in his play California Suite, which was adapted into this quite successful movie. In the first episode, the divorced couple of Bill and Hannah Warren (Alan Alda and Jane Fonda) have rented a suite in a posh Beverly Hills hotel in order to have a discussion about who will get the custody of their child. In the next episode, Sidney Cochran and Diana Barrie (Michael Caine and Maggie Smith) are a hilarious pair of Hollywood stars who have rented the suite to await their appearance at the Academy Awards: it is a "date of convenience" which enables the sexually adventurous duo to conduct their other, more unconventional alliances out of the public eye. Drs. Willis Panama and Chauncy Gump (Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor) have brought their families to Beverly Hills for a vacation which takes on nightmarish tone. Finally, Marvin Michaels (Walter Matthau) tries frantically and unsuccessfully to explain the situation to his wife (Elaine May) when she catches him in flagrante delicto with a hooker. Actress Maggie Smith won an Academy Award as "Best Supporting Actress" for her role in this film, in which she plays the actress waiting to win . . . an Academy Award.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
58%- Reviews Counted: 19
- Fresh: 11
- Rotten: 8
- Average Rating: 5.2/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: Less than successful, veering from poignant emotionalism to broad slapstick in sudden shifts.
Rotten: Means middle-class angst covered with a thin veneer of snappy one-liners and presented in the most anonymous directorial style imaginable.
Fresh: Quick and varied comedy, highly suited to Neil Simon's machine-gun gag-writing.
Customer Reviews
Sheds new light on Maggie Smith
I really liked Maggie Smith in this movie, she was cheerful and played a lead role. There was a very diverse group of actors. It didn't tie up quite how I expected nor did all the different groups of people. Overall it was enjoyable though not LOL funny. I am a teen trying out some oolder movies i would normaly refuse to watch because of there age but I enjoyed the movie even still.
Most Entertaining!
Maggie Smith well-deserved the Oscar for her multilayered role. Michael Caine deserves high praise too. Walter Matthau is a great comedic actor. Elaine May's reaction is great, especially in front of the Bijan (sp?) Salon. The sharp repartee between Alan Alda & Jane Fonda is great & classic Neil Simon. Richard Pryor & Bill Cosby finish off the ensemble well! A most entertaining film.
California Suite not your typical musical
Although california suite has plenty of action scenes, mindless gory violence, and laughs for the whole family, pin-pointing exactly what it is, is no small feat. Teh beginning is action-packed, car chases, bank robberies, hostages, but then it progresses into a heart-warming tale about a boy and his dog spot. The audience watches as spot grows into a healthy animaly and tears will be shead by the third glorious act of this film. So whether you are a librarian, or a surfer, California Suite has something for you.
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