{"id":51653,"date":"2020-09-19T11:36:34","date_gmt":"2020-09-19T18:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51653"},"modified":"2022-09-10T00:28:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T07:28:18","slug":"irreconcilable-differences-1984","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51653","title":{"rendered":"Irreconcilable Differences (1984)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;m just a kid, and I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m doing sometimes. But I think you should know better when you&#8217;re all grown up.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-51657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster-669x1024.jpg 669w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster-768x1176.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster-176x270.jpg 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Poster.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe daughter (Drew Barrymore) of a Hollywood director (Ryan O&#8217;Neal) and a novelist (Shelley Long) tells a judge the story of how her quibbling parents&#8217; marriage fell apart &#8212; starting with her dad (O&#8217;Neal) falling for a beautiful young starlet (Sharon Stone) &#8212; and why she believes she&#8217;s better off living apart from them.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Allen Garfield Films<\/li>\n<li>Courtroom Drama<\/li>\n<li>Divorce<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Hollywood<\/li>\n<li>Marital Problems<\/li>\n<li>Rise-and-Fall<\/li>\n<li>Romantic Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Ryan O&#8217;Neal Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAfter her breakthrough role in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=42105\"><em>E.T.<\/em> (1982)<\/a>, 9-year-old Drew Barrymore starred in both <em>Firestarter<\/em> (1984) and this flashback romantic comedy, told from the perspective of a young girl interested in &#8220;divorcing&#8221; her parents. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Barrymore2.png 1837w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Barrymore&#8217;s role is actually somewhat peripheral, given that our primary focus is on the rise-and-fall of two aspiring artists who initially work well together: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-1536x854.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-Long.png 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>then descend into farcical ineptitude as their own desires (O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s lust for Stone, Long&#8217;s longing for revenge) replace any sense of moral obligation or concern as parents. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-1536x870.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone-476x270.png 476w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Stone.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, this is foreshadowed during the first party Long and O&#8217;Neal attend upon arriving in Hollywood, when a guest informs Long that she&#8217;s a parent but &#8220;isn&#8217;t that into parenting&#8221; at the moment. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-1024x565.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-1024x565.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-1536x848.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party-489x270.png 489w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Party.png 1849w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Because this couple can&#8217;t move beyond their petty selfishness to recognize the harm they&#8217;re causing their loved ones, they lose everything they value. I wish Barrymore had even more screen time, since she&#8217;s infinitely more sympathetic than either O&#8217;Neal or Long &#8212; but the adult stars do well in their roles, and are suitably convincing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by the leads<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-1536x865.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal-479x270.png 479w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-ONeal.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-1024x573.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Irreconcilable-Differences-Long.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s recommended for one-time viewing. Listed as a Sleeper and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0087482\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/irreconcilable-differences\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/irreconcilable-differences\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/irreconcilable-differences\/review\/102252\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just a kid, and I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m doing sometimes. But I think you should know better when you&#8217;re all grown up.&#8221; Synopsis: The daughter (Drew Barrymore) of a Hollywood director (Ryan O&#8217;Neal) and a novelist (Shelley Long) tells a judge the story of how her quibbling parents&#8217; marriage fell apart &#8212; starting with her dad (O&#8217;Neal) falling for a beautiful young starlet (Sharon Stone) &#8212; and why she believes she&#8217;s better off living apart from them. Genres,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51653\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51653"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87147,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51653\/revisions\/87147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}