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A classic tearjerker, Terms of Endearment isn't shy about reaching for the heartstrings -- but is so well-acted and smartly scripted that it's almost impossible to resist.
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (5) | DVD (2)
Terms of Endearment is that uncommon kind of American movie, the kind that doesn't just manipulate our feelings, but releases them. Apr 26, 2018 | Full Review…
Terms of Endearment is that uncommon kind of American movie, the kind that doesn't just manipulate our feelings, but releases them.
Jay Carr
It takes all of perhaps five minutes to fall in love with the leading characters in Terms of Endearment and from that point on, the audience is just putty in the extremely capable hands of writer-director James L. Brooks. Feb 22, 2015 | Full Review…
It takes all of perhaps five minutes to fall in love with the leading characters in Terms of Endearment and from that point on, the audience is just putty in the extremely capable hands of writer-director James L. Brooks.
Kathleen Carroll
Terms of Endearment is about three relationships and students of screenwriting would do well to study the way in which these three stories are told completely and effortlessly in a movie of average length. Jan 18, 2013 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Terms of Endearment is about three relationships and students of screenwriting would do well to study the way in which these three stories are told completely and effortlessly in a movie of average length.
Gene Siskel
Its quirky rhythms and veering emotional tones are very much its own, and they owe less to movie tradition than they do to a sense of how the law of unintended consequences pushes us ceaselessly through the years, permitting no pause for perspective. Feb 20, 2009 | Full Review…
Its quirky rhythms and veering emotional tones are very much its own, and they owe less to movie tradition than they do to a sense of how the law of unintended consequences pushes us ceaselessly through the years, permitting no pause for perspective.
Richard Schickel
Brooks' dialog is wonderful throughout and all the characters carry off their assignments beautifully, even down to Danny De Vito and Norman Bennett as MacLaine's other suffering suitors. Feb 20, 2008 | Full Review…
Brooks' dialog is wonderful throughout and all the characters carry off their assignments beautifully, even down to Danny De Vito and Norman Bennett as MacLaine's other suffering suitors.
James Harwood
[Writer-director James L. Brooks] has television in his soul: his people are incredibly tiny (most are defined by a single stroke of obsessive behavior), and he chokes out his narrative in ten-minute chunks, separated by aching lacunae. Dec 17, 2006 | Full Review…
[Writer-director James L. Brooks] has television in his soul: his people are incredibly tiny (most are defined by a single stroke of obsessive behavior), and he chokes out his narrative in ten-minute chunks, separated by aching lacunae.
Dave Kehr
In his directorial debut, Brooks proves himself a master with actors. Jan 10, 2014 | Full Review…
In his directorial debut, Brooks proves himself a master with actors.
People Staff
Its soppy story is freed from cheap tear-jerking by Brooks' confident direction, Larry McMurtry's poignant script and a flawless ensemble. Jan 10, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Its soppy story is freed from cheap tear-jerking by Brooks' confident direction, Larry McMurtry's poignant script and a flawless ensemble.
Paul M. Bradshaw
There's not enough substance to support the sentiment of this longish comedy-drama. Feb 22, 2013 | Full Review…
There's not enough substance to support the sentiment of this longish comedy-drama.
David Sterritt
This is American mainstream movie-making at its best. Feb 22, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
This is American mainstream movie-making at its best.
John Ferguson
Glossy, funny, and packs a real emotional wallop. Jan 2, 2011 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
Glossy, funny, and packs a real emotional wallop.
Randy White
The tragi-comedy never made me reach for my hankie, never tickled my funny bone and it never found a way into my heart. Mar 16, 2008 | Rating: C | Full Review…
The tragi-comedy never made me reach for my hankie, never tickled my funny bone and it never found a way into my heart.
Dennis Schwartz
A wonderful drama that finds a perfect balance between sweet, humorous and sad with sublime performances by the whole cast (mainly MacLaine and Nicholson), while the superb editing keeps the narrative always fluid as it spans several years in the lives of its characters.
Super Reviewer
Heart-warming, this classic chronicle about family problems and platonic love. Together with finest actings and an intelligent script, Terms of Endearment gonna make the most strong people cry.
A great film! So touching. Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger both give great performances! I had originally given this film a 4/5 rating. However I have recently decided to bump it up to a 4.5/5. I will never forget this film...the acting, the story, the characters, the execution...it's an extremely well done film.
Spanning several years, this is the story of a mother and daughter, their sometimes intense love/hate relationship, and the quest each one goes through to find love, happiness, and acceptance. It was based on a work by Larry McMurty (which I fins surprising),and marked the directorial debit of James L. Brooks. It also won several Oscars, even though it only deserved a couple of them. This is a rather odd film tonally. It is listed as beign a romantic comedy-drama, and, while there are some moments of humor, it mostly comes off as a drama filled with pain and heartbreak, especially towards the end. It's a classic tearjerker. It's a good movie, and I did find it enjoyable, but I do think it's overrated and not a masterpiece or anything. The acting holds it together though, and that's the real reason to watch it. Shirley MacLaine is wonderful as the overbearing and out of touch mother Aurora. Debra Winger started off as a big annoying, but got better in her role as Aurora's daughter Emma. Jeff Daniels appears in one of his earliest role's as Emma's philandering professor husband, but it is Jack Nicholson who is the most fun to watch as the boozy, womanizing former astronaut who is neighbors with Aurora and tries to have a more meaningful relationship with her. Like all of Brooks's films, this drags on a bit too long, but it's got some decent writing, and sometimes we all need a good cry. Give it a watch.
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