Playmates (1972)

Simply Perfect

As Good As It Gets

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The first must-see film of the year.

Two divorced fathers, one a lawyer and the other a financially-strapped welder, meet at Playland with their sons and compare their post-marital woes. Alan Alda complains about ex-wife Barbra Feldon's kooky paintings while Doug McClure gripes about ex Connie Stevens and her spending habits. The dated look of the film and the sometimes cringe-worthy dialogue in Richard Baer's teleplay assures that this TV-movie will never see a DVD release, although the nasty/funny guy-talk between Alda and McClure in the opening scenes hits a truthful chord. Sitcom contrivances--the men end up dating each other's wives--ultimately betrays the early promise (it feels put on, for ratings). The acting ensemble is really hit-and-miss: McClure would seem to be out of his league acting opposite no less a TV pro than Alda, but Alan Alda at this point had a penchant for laying on the polite 'naturalness' too heavily (one tires of his rehearsed joshing manner, his nervous, rapid speech and his eyes always crinkling up in laughter). As for the ladies, they twinkle and giggle but are basically here to be mates for the men and not living, breathing women. This being 1972, writer Baer makes no apologies for his apparent male chauvinism--yet another reason "Playmates" will never see the light of day.

PLAYMATES was a 1972 ABC Movie of the Week which starred Alan Alda and Doug McClure as a pair of divorced dads who meet during a weekend outing with their kids, who strike up a friendship and start hanging out together. Their relationship becomes complicated when the two men introduce each other to their ex-wives and they start secretly start dating each other's exes. This formulaic romantic comedy isn't groundbreaking in any way but it does boasT a surprisingly deft screenplay and energetic performances from a willing cast. The connection between Alda's sophisticated businessman and McClure's blue collar everyman is a big plus as is the casting of Barbara Feldon as Alda's ex and Connie Stevens as McClure's. The clever script and the rock solid chemistry of the four leads make this film an unexpected delight that still holds up remarkably well, despite some dated elements.

This movie starring Alan Alda and Connie Stevens should be on video.It's about 2 divorced guys exchanging ex-wives and the hilarious results afterward.It's a must see and highly reccommended movie if you ever catch it on TV.Hopefully someday it will be released on vhs/dvd.