one of my absolute favorites!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Jack Taylor (George Clooney), and Melanie Parker (Michelle Pfeiffer), are two divorced parents about to have the worst day of their lives.Melanie, an architect, is the mother of five year old Sammy (Alex D. Linz) who has both a school field trip, and a soccer game on the day his mother has to give the most important presentation of her career which could mean a promotion...or the loss of her job.Jack, a newspaper columnist, is having some career troubles himself.On the morning of the day he has to focus all his energy on getting a story confirmed, or getting fired, his ex-wife drops by, telling him he has to watch their five year old daughter Maggie (Mae Whitman) since she's going on her honeymoon with her new husband, and can't find anyone else to care for the child.Maggie is Sammy's classmate, and -like him- is anxious to get to the field trip.Which is how Jack and Melanie meet...Arriving late for a field trip their children cannot attend, having missed the boat by a very few minutes (which Melanie blames on Jack, and counters with an upset involving the class goldfish).This is the first of a series of disasters which make us wonder how the quartet make it through the day alive.As for Melanie, and Jack, they hate each other, but begrudgingly grow to depend on each other as their phones get accidentally switched, and no one is willing to care for the children during the hours that could make, or break their careers.Add to that, the rain. Maggie's tendency to wander (which she does). And Sammy's tendency to put things up his nose (which, of course, he does).What makes this movie enjoyable, however, is the obvious attraction that exists between the two frazzled struggling parents, and which smolders throughout the story, promising to, ultimately, burst into flame.Also, the presence of Amanda Peet, Charles Durning, Holland Taylor, and Ellen Green, add humour and dynamic to the story.What's reassuring about it -and what a story like this is really here to remind us of- is that everything will be alright in the end, no matter how bad things look at any given moment.Originally, Review #143Posted On: November 24, 2011

In "One Fine Day" George Clooney is at his charismatic best and Michelle Pfeiffer is on top form too. Plot In A Paragraph: Jack Taylor (Clooney) and Melanie Parker (Pfeiffer) are two divorced strangers, who are forced to rely on each other, during one crazy day, when both of their kids miss a school trip and both are face losing their respective jobs. I really enjoyed this movie, Michelle Pfeiffer pulls off both distressed single-parent and love interest to Clooney roles well, and how in the world, had I missed what a fine pair of leg she has. George Clooney is at his charming and charismatic best, and I always love see Charles Durning on screen. Likewise Holland Taylor (who plays Pfiefers mother) is always a joy to watch. Amanda Peet does OK in her supporting role as Celia. However this movie is let down by a few things. Whilst Mae Whittman was fine as Clooney's daughter Maggie (OK her penchant for wondering off after cats was a worry) Alex D Linz is one of the most annoying children I have ever watched on screen, that's actually harsh on the actor as he did as he was told, and performed well enough, it's his character that annoyed the living hell out of me!! The Mayor is one of the worst type of corrupt official clichés played by an unconvincing actor. Any movie with a Jaws reference gets two thumbs up from this reviewer.

If you don't happen to be from that segment of the population like its producer Lynda Obst who finds misbehaving children who ruin their clueless parents lives cute, this movie is like finger nails on the blackboard.The plot has more cliff hangers than the entire TCM DVD collection of film noir... each one dumber than the last, as a hapless pair of single parents try desperately to save their careers and meet the schedules and recreational activities of a pair of spoiled moppets as well.The parents deserve everything that happens to them, and for once, the worst thing imaginable is that the meet cute couple get together in the end. And they DO... .They will make one another's lives sheer hell! And that IS hilarious!

One Fine Day is a lovely Romantic Comedy that avoids many of the clichés usually associated with the genre.Most RomComs stick with the formula whereby the two leads meet, argue, fall in love, part when a truth or lie is discovered, and yet they kiss and make up at the end and live happily ever after.One Fine Day breaks with that tradition somewhat, as the romance builds more realistically over the course of the movie with nothing really said or done about their feelings till the very end and the Comedy aspect is subtle and is derived mainly from the interaction of the characters rather than excessively witty dialogue or situations.Clooney and Pfeiffer have great on screen chemistry which adds to the films overall charm as they play busy working single parents who, due to missing the school bus and field trip are unexpectedly left holding their respective babies despite both having life changing business commitments throughout the day.The two meet, and due to his childlike immaturity and her control freak attitude, immediately rub each other up the wrong way, but when they are forced to rely on each other to do the babysitter routine whilst they each attend their meetings and satisfy their employers, they grow closer and closer so that by days end, their animosity has turned to friendship, to attraction and finally love.Its a shame the film contains quite a few expletives as on the whole this film would have been suitable for the whole family, a universal comedy suitable for all in the old style, like a film from the 40's or 50's. say.In fact saying that you could easily see Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in the lead roles.A great film that has aged well despite its twelve year age tag and one I heartily recommend.