Fun with Dick and Jane (1977) starring George Segal, Jane Fonda directed by Ted Kotcheff Movie Review

Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)   3/53/53/53/53/5


George Segal in Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)

Call Dick for Hold Up

Dick Harper (George Segal) and his attractive wife Jane (Jane Fonda) enjoy living the good life as they are currently having a pool built in their backyard. Except that all changes when Dick, along with lots of other staff at the aerospace centre, finds himself canned. With huge debts and work being done on the house it is not long before Dick finds himself in the queue for welfare hand outs whilst Jane turns her hand to modelling. But it is soon clear that no matter what they do they can't make ends meet so Dick decides their only choice is a life of crime as they set about robbing drug stores.

I actually saw the remake of "Fun with Dick and Jane" before watching this 1977 version and in truth had forgotten much of what went on it. Now some would say well what do you expect from not only a remake but a Jim Carrey movie yet the irony is that two weeks after watching the 1977 version of "Fun with Dick and Jane" I couldn't remember much about it either. And the reason is that it is a middle of the road comedy, fun for the family but has nothing which is great about it to make it memorable.

Jane Fonda in Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)

Part of the trouble with "Fun with Dick and Jane" is that whilst it is a busy movie it is incredibly simple as we watch how Dick and Jane struggle when he loses his job and money runs out. We see how whilst Jane tries to earn some money Dick ends up falling foul of the welfare system when he ends up duped in to taking part in a chorus line when he shouldn't. It is amusing as is watching the contractors come to remove plants and so on from their home in payment for their debts whilst they try to keep up appearances. But because there is nothing really stands out rather than some unsurprising 70s stereotypes it is forgettable.

What is interesting when you watch "Fun with Dick and Jane" is comparing it to the Jim Carrey version with this one relying heavily on the double act of Segal and Fonda delivering the back and forth dialogue with a snap where as Carrey's version relied heavily on his brand of visual humour and arm waving. In truth both of them work in their own right with Segal in his element with the snappy dialogue in this earlier movie.

What this all boils down to is that the 1977 version of "Fun with Dick and Jane" is an enjoyable distraction. But it isn't over memorable with it lacking any real stand out comedy or risks to make it memorable.


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