Neil Simon's supposed drama of his life with Marsha Mason was called Chapter 2 since it was about two people from previous relationships getting married again. In reality Neil Simon was married 5 times but I doubt anyone would want to see a film about a 5 time loser. On the other hand that might have been a more interesting film than this blandness.
As usual with Neil Simon, everyone talks the way people don't talk in real life. The director Robert Moore and the actors James Caan and Marsha Mason work very hard to make the characters sound like normal people but it's an uphill battle for the entire film.
Throughout the film the viewer is constantly told by everyone how attractive Marsha Mason is. With all due respect to Marsha Mason that seems a little bit of a stretch.
The film is impeccably produced. At one point Caan and Mason honeymoon at a luxurious resort in Mexico or the Caribbean or somewhere and it's clear the actors and the crew must have had a real nice vacation during the shooting.
This mystery of Neil Simon continues, what made this guy so popular for about 30 years? Chapter 2 is the laziest of lazy writing full of plot contrivances and a last minute emotional resolution that wouldn't make the grade on a TV soap opera.
I suppose a viewer can accept the fact that Caan marries Mason too soon as a way of dealing with his first wife's death. But the the dramatic climax of all the uninteresting emotional turmoil that Caan causes Mason is resolved by Caan going for a walk!
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| The happy real life couple of Simon and Mason. |
Even the big "meet cute" scene of the 5 minute date is really contrived. It's supposed to be funny and maybe if Caan and Mason were a couple of teenagers it would be funny but these are two adult people.
The whole thing just reeks. Chapter 2 ran on Broadway for over 800 performances, this was one of Simon's biggest hits. The film however does not seem to be well remembered.
124 minutes.
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