As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

No, it's not a comedy, though there's some classic Matthau/Burnett wisecracking in the beginning, during the courtship. Once their son Robbie is born, life goes the course it often does in Peter de Vries novels (it's adapted from "Witch's Milk"), chronicling the ups and downs of suburban American life. There are some splendid turns by René Auberjonois and Geraldine Page. And check out Tillie's devastating undermining of Pete's shallow paramour over cocktails.Spoiler: when their son Robbie comes down with terminal leukemia, the story takes somewhat predictable turns, morphing from what might at first have seemed a comedy into a reach-for-the-hankie melodrama.I give it a ten, though, because of the performances and the mise-en-scène.

Walter Matthau and Carol Burnett both portray characters who feel themselves unworthy, at least unworthy of love. The characters are very real, nuanced, and fully realized; I've known people like these! This is a movie that doesn't talk down to its audience, or the characters to each other. They're both intelligent and perceptive. For most of the movie they are willing to live with each other's weaknesses not out of deep love, but out of an awareness that they most likely can't do better. That this changes is one of the riches of the movie, but also one of the weaknesses - the ending seems a bit too nice to be true. But that's Hollywood. I enjoyed the movie.

Carol Burnett and Walter Matthau are middle aged singles at one of socialite Geraldine Paige's famous "parties". Seemingly inexperienced Burnett is unsure whether the wise-cracking and somewhat "obviously interested" Matthau is the real deal. Eventually they hit it off, get married, and have a son, whom they both adore. Time passes, Burnett learns that Matthau freely shares his sexual talents with other women, which he does not attempt to hide. When their school age son is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Burnett breaks down. The couple separates, all friends and acquaintances suggest Burnett get a divorce.The ending may be somewhat predictable, but it's a much needed "up" from the depressing 20 minutes preceding it. The brief interlude with Burnett and Paige in a "cat fight" is another welcomed distraction from compounding dramatic scenes. Matthau's constant witty remarks become an expected staple, although he does show emotion about the loss of his son.This is definitely an "adult film", although rated PG. Many issues about urban life and society in general are tackled. Pre-teens would certainly be confused and unable to make sense of some of the plot. Fans of the leads will enjoy this film

Walter Matthau and Carol Burnett as a married couple and it's not a comedy? I can't remember if "Pete 'n' Tillie" was advertised as such, but I can certainly believe word-of-mouth on this was bad. The film has a washed-out sense of 'realism' as two single people meet and marry, have a child, and soon face tragedy. It strives to give us sort of a day-to-day examination of married life in the suburbs, but first we need to fall in love with these characters and, despite the charisma of Matthau and Burnett, we don't. They are both brought down to scale (Burnett more fiercely than Matthau) and their comedic tics are mellowed out (Matthau plays a piano nude except for a hat, and it gets a laugh, but then it's back to business). There are colorful moments--and a surprisingly vicious/funny knock-down brawl between Burnett and Geraldine Page--but the script has nowhere to go, the possibilities far exceeding what we see on-screen. An interesting attempt, but perhaps filmmakers who live in Beverly Hills should stay out of the suburbs. ** from ****