Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978) starring Farrah Fawcett, Jeff Bridges, John Wood, Tammy Grimes, John Glover directed by Lamont Johnson Movie Review

Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Jeff Bridges in Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978)

Somebody Stole the Comedy

Jerry Green (Jeff Bridges) is an aspiring novelist but in order to make ends meet works in the toy department of Macy's. It is how he comes to meet Jenny Moore (Farrah Fawcett) an attractive mother of one who just happens to be married so nothing can come of it despite having lunch in the park together. But when they meet again when Jerry is out to dinner with his girlfriend and Jenny is out to dinner with her husband there is a spark between them and decide they should be together. But when they find Jenny's husband dead they fear that they will be the main suspects so hide his body and start trying to discover who killed him.

For those who think that Jeff Bridges can do no wrong should seek out "Somebody Killed Her Husband" as this movie is a flop from start to finish. From the lack of chemistry between stars Farrah Fawcett and Jeff Bridges to one joke after another falling flat let alone the bushy beard on Bridges face it just misfires. Well misfires maybe a bit harsh as "Somebody Killed Her Husband" is just about watchable but it is a disappointment as it should have been a snappy farce rather than the lumbering, failing comedy which it is.

Farrah Fawcett in Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978)

Sadly "Somebody Killed Her Husband" is a movie where the memorable stuff happens to be what is wrong with it and that starts with no chemistry. Despite the bushy beard Bridges and Fawcett look good together but not once do you believe there is any romantic spark between them just two actors trying to make romantic scenes and romantic lines work. But sadly those romantic lines don't work especially when they are meant to be funny such as when shortly after kissing Jenny for the first time Jerry blurts out "I love you" it falls completely flat. The number of jokes which fall flat from Jenny's husband saying he is going to get killed playing squash to the noisy toy which Jerry buys Jenny's and gives to her whilst they are in the cinema watching a silent movie is incredible. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie where so many jokes fall flat.

The frustrating thing is that you watch "Somebody Killed Her Husband" knowing what it wants to be, a snappy farce. As such we should have sparky humour when it comes to the romance, and then we should have the snappy daftness which ensues after they find Jenny's husband murdered but we get none of that. What we also get none of is the snappy dialogue that such a farce requires and it is all very one sided with second billed Jeff Bridges having the lion share of the dialogue whilst all Fawcett does is softly respond to him.

What this all boils down to is that "Somebody Killed Her Husband" is watchable but yet disappointing as everything about it seems out of kilter.


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