One Fine Day (1996 film)

Last updated

One Fine Day
One Fine Day (1996 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Hoffman
Written by
  • Terrel Seltzer
  • Ellen Simon
Produced by Lynda Obst
Starring
Cinematography Oliver Stapleton
Edited byGarth Craven
Music by James Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • December 20, 1996 (1996-12-20)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$97.5 million [1]

One Fine Day is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Hoffman, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney as two single working parents, with Alex D. Linz and Mae Whitman as their children. The title comes from the 1963 song "One Fine Day" by the Chiffons, which is heard in the film.

Contents

Pfeiffer served as an executive producer for the film, which was produced in association with her company Via Rosa Productions. [2]

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("For the First Time").

Plot

Melanie Parker is an architect and the divorced mother of Sammy. Her day gets off to a bad start when she is late to drop him off at school, due to the forgetfulness of fellow divorced father Jack Taylor, a New York Daily News reporter whose daughter, Maggie, is thrust into his care that morning by his former wife who leaves to go on her honeymoon with her new husband. The children arrive just a moment too late to go on a school field trip, a Circle Line boat cruise. Their parents realize that, on top of hectically busy schedules, they must work together that day to supervise the children. In the confusion of sharing a taxi, they accidentally switch cell phones, causing each of them, all morning, to receive calls intended for the other one, which they then have to relay to the other person.

Melanie must make an architectural design presentation to an important client. Jack has to find a source for a scoop on the New York mayor's mob connections. Sammy causes havoc at Melanie's office with his toy cars, causing her to trip and break her scale model display. In frustration, she takes him to a day care center (which is having a "Superhero Day"), where she coincidentally comes across Jack trying to convince Maggie to stay and behave herself. They create impromptu costumes for the children, using his imagination and her resourcefulness. She takes her model to a shop to get it quickly repaired. Having left for a meeting, she panics when she receives a phone call from Sammy about another child having a psychedelic drug. She phones Jack in desperation and asks him to pick up the children. He agrees, on the condition that she take over their care at 3:15 while he chases down a potential news source.

While in Melanie's care, Maggie goes missing from a store, and wanders some distance down a crowded midtown sidewalk. Melanie breaks down in despair at the police station, files a missing child report, and then goes to a mayoral press conference to find Jack. He is notified by the police that Maggie has been found, and makes it to the press conference just barely in time to confront the mayor with his scoop about corruption. He had earlier tracked down its source, just as she was leaving a beauty salon in a limousine. Although they have been antagonistic, Melanie and Jack work together to take the children, by taxi, to a soccer game. She insists that she will have time first to do her presentation to the new clients, despite him protesting that it will make them late for the game. She begins her pitch over drinks at the 21 Club lounge, but upon seeing Sammy in high spirits, she realizes that she cares more about him than her job. Insisting that she must leave immediately to be with him, she fully expects to be fired, but the clients are impressed.

At the game, Melanie meets with her former husband, Eddie, a musician; he informs her that he will not be able to take Sammy fishing in the summer as he will be touring as a drummer with Bruce Springsteen instead. That evening, Jack wants a reason to visit Melanie's apartment, so he takes Maggie to buy goldfish to replace the ones that were eaten earlier in the day by a cat. At Melanie's apartment, the children watch The Wizard of Oz while she and Jack share a first kiss. She goes to the bathroom to freshen up; when she returns, an exhausted Jack is asleep on the sofa. She joins him and they fall asleep together, with the children happily observing.

Cast

Production

Clooney's character did not exist in the script's original draft. Producer Lynda Obst explained the change: "We were being incredibly sexist. There are plenty of divorced, single working fathers going through the exact same thing." The studios initially wanted Kevin Costner or Tom Cruise to portray Jack Taylor, but they passed and Clooney ultimately received the part. The film was shot in 44 Manhattan locations. [3]

Soundtrack

One Fine Day:
Music from the Motion Picture
Soundtrack album by
various artists
ReleasedDecember 10, 1996
Length52:22
Label Columbia
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link

One Fine Day: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album to the film. It was released on December 10, 1996, by Columbia Records. The album peaked at number 57 on Billboard 200 in 1997.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."One Fine Day"
 Natalie Merchant 2:45
2."The Boy from New York City"
  • George Davis
  • John T. Taylor
 The Ad Libs 3:01
3."For the First Time"
 Kenny Loggins 4:30
4."Mama Said"
 The Shirelles 2:09
5."Someone Like You" Van Morrison Shawn Colvin 4:11
6."Love's Funny That Way"
Tina Arena4:37
7."Have I Told You Lately"MorrisonVan Morrison4:20
8."The Glory of Love" William Hill Keb' Mo' 2:58
9."What a Diff'rence a Day Made"
 Tony Bennett 2:28
10."Isn't It Romantic?"
 Ella Fitzgerald 3:02
11."This Guy's in Love with You"
 Harry Connick Jr. 3:48
12."Just like You"
Keb' Mo'3:28
13."One Fine Day"
  • King
  • Goffin
 The Chiffons 2:10
14."Suite from One Fine Day"HowardJames Newton Howard8:55
Total length:52:22

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [4] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Reception

Box office

One Fine Day earned a total of $6.2 million during its opening weekend, ranking in fifth place at the box office behind Beavis and Butt-Head Do America , Jerry Maguire , 101 Dalmatians and Scream . [5]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 53% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "With a throwback 1930s vibe, this screwball romantic comedy is perfect for One Fine Day of folding laundry." [6] It was considered a commercial disappointment by Twentieth Century Fox. [7]

Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote, "A 50's romp with a few glaring 90's touches (dueling cellular phones, frazzled single parents), One Fine Day makes for sunny, pleasant fluff. Both stars are enjoyably breezy, and there's enough chemistry to deflect attention from the story's endless contrivances... he's [Clooney] such a natural as a movie star that he hardly needs false flattery. Ms Pfeiffer, meanwhile, shows a flair for physical comedy." [8]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "'Cinema is the history of boys photographing girls.' Or so Jean-Luc Godard is claimed to have said. I thought of his words while watching One Fine Day, an uninspired formula movie with another fine performance by Michelle Pfeiffer. She does everything in this movie that a much better movie would have required from her, but the screenplay lets her down... Pfeiffer looks, acts and sounds wonderful throughout all of this, and George Clooney is perfectly serviceable as a romantic lead, sort of a Mel Gibson lite. I liked them. I wanted them to get together. I wanted them to live happily ever after. The sooner the better." [9]

Rita Kempley of The Washington Post wrote, "Director Michael Hoffman, whose idiosyncratic portfolio includes the period comedy Restoration and the spoof Soapdish , sets a mellow pace and alternates old-fashioned split screen with crosscutting to enliven the many phone scenes. If the stars don't click, of course, nothing else matters. Happily, Pfeiffer and Clooney, now officially a movie star, not only click, they send off sparks." [10]

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "One Fine Day is fortunate in its casting. Not only does it have Michelle Pfeiffer, whose gift for this kind of business was visible as far back as Married to the Mob and The Fabulous Baker Boys , but it marks the emergence of George Clooney as a major romantic star... Still, despite feeling like its moments have been micro-managed for maximum audience response, One Fine Day often passes for a pleasant diversion. But with actors so suited to each other, it's too bad the film didn't give them more original material to work with." [2]

Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "We've seen it before, but Pfeiffer and Clooney do everything in their power to make it seem fresh and delightful. That's ultimately not enough, and even though the stars have some chemistry and Pfeiffer delivers her usual spotless performance, One Fine Day never manages to be more than a harmless, forgettable time-filler." [11]

Rob Nelson of the Boston Phoenix wrote, "Privilege and coincidence have always been central to screwball comedy, but the speed of crosstown travel here rivals Die Hard 3 for plausibility. And it's these convenient shortcuts that waylay the film from examining the condition it purports to critique: that is, the '90s compulsion to drive at full throttle." [12]

Accolades

AwardYearCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards 1997 Best Original Song James Newton Howard, Jud J. Friedman, and Allan Dennis Rich for "For the First Time"Nominated [13]
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actress – Comedy/Romance Michelle Pfeiffer Won [14]
Golden Globe Awards Best Original Song James Newton Howard, Jud J. Friedman, and Allan Dennis Rich for "For the First Time"Nominated [15]
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie ActressMichelle PfeifferNominated [14]
Youth in Film Awards Best Family Feature Film – Musical or ComedyWon [16]
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Actor Age Ten or Under Alex D. Linz Nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film: Actress Age Ten or Under Mae Whitman Won
YoungStar Awards Best Young Actor in a Comedy FilmAlex D. LinzWon [17]
Best Young Actress in a Comedy FilmMae WhitmanNominated
Grammy Awards 1998 Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television James Newton Howard, Jud J. Friedman, and Allan Dennis Rich for "For the First Time"Nominated [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Roberts</span> American actress (born 1967)

Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. The films in which she has starred have collectively grossed over $3.9 billion globally, making her one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. After an early breakthrough with appearances in Mystic Pizza (1988) and Steel Magnolias (1989), Roberts established herself as a leading actress when she headlined the top-grossing romantic comedy Pretty Woman (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Pfeiffer</span> American actress (born 1958)

Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. Prolific in film for over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as one of the era's defining sex symbols. She is known for pursuing a wide range of characters that span multiple genres, which have earned her various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award.

<i>Dangerous Liaisons</i> 1988 film by Stephen Frears

Dangerous Liaisons is a 1988 American period romantic drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton, based on his 1985 play Les liaisons dangereuses, itself adapted from the 1782 French novel of the same name by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. It stars Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Swoosie Kurtz, Mildred Natwick, Peter Capaldi and Keanu Reeves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie Smith</span> English actress (born 1934)

Dame Margaret Natalie Smith is an English actress. Known for her wit in comedic roles, she has had an extensive career on stage and screen over seven decades and is one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actresses. She has received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award, making her one of the few performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting.

<i>Thelma & Louise</i> 1991 film by Ridley Scott

Thelma & Louise is a 1991 American buddy road film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. The film stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as Louise & Thelma, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends up in unforeseen circumstances. The supporting cast includes Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, and a then-unknown Brad Pitt in one of his first major film roles. Filming took place in California and Utah from June to August 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Clooney</span> American actor and filmmaker (born 1961)

George Timothy Clooney is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Academy Awards. Clooney has been honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2015, the Honorary César in 2017, AFI Life Achievement Award in 2018, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marisa Tomei</span> American actress (born 1964)

Marisa Tomei is an American actress. She gained prominence for her comedic performance in My Cousin Vinny (1992), which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She received further nominations in the category for In the Bedroom (2001) and The Wrestler (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanie Griffith</span> American actress (born 1957)

Melanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. Born in Manhattan to future actress Tippi Hedren, she was raised mainly in Los Angeles, where she graduated from the Hollywood Professional School at age 16. In 1975, 17-year-old Griffith appeared opposite Gene Hackman in Arthur Penn's neo-noir film Night Moves. She later rose to prominence as an actor in films such as Brian De Palma's Body Double (1984), which earned her a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. Griffith's subsequent performance in the comedy Something Wild (1986) attracted critical acclaim before she was cast in 1988's Working Girl, which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won her a Golden Globe.

<i>The Fabulous Baker Boys</i> 1989 film by Steve Kloves

The Fabulous Baker Boys is a 1989 American romantic comedy-drama musical film written and directed by Steve Kloves. The film follows a piano duo consisting of brothers Jack and Frank Baker, who hire an attractive singer named Susie Diamond to revive their waning career. After a period of success, complications ensue when the younger brother develops a romantic interest in the singer.

<i>Frankie and Johnny</i> (1991 film) 1991 film by Garry Marshall

Frankie and Johnny is a 1991 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall and starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer in their first film together since Scarface (1983). Héctor Elizondo, Nathan Lane, and Kate Nelligan appear in supporting roles. The original score was composed by Marvin Hamlisch.

<i>Up Close & Personal</i> (film) 1996 film by Jon Avnet

Up Close & Personal is a 1996 American romantic drama film directed by Jon Avnet from a screenplay written by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. It stars Robert Redford as a news director and Michelle Pfeiffer as his protégée, with Stockard Channing, Joe Mantegna, and Kate Nelligan in supporting roles.

<i>The Story of Us</i> (film) 1999 film by Rob Reiner

The Story of Us is a 1999 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer as a couple married for 15 years.

<i>The Witches of Eastwick</i> (film) 1987 film by George Miller

The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 American supernatural comedy film directed by George Miller and starring Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer and Susan Sarandon as the titular witches. The film is based on John Updike's 1984 novel of the same name.

<i>Burn After Reading</i> 2008 film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

Burn After Reading is a 2008 black comedy film written, produced, edited and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It follows a recently jobless CIA analyst, Osbourne Cox, whose misplaced memoirs are found by a pair of dimwitted gym employees. When they mistake the memoirs for classified government documents, they undergo a series of misadventures in an attempt to profit from their find. The film also stars George Clooney as a womanizing U.S. Marshal; Tilda Swinton as Katie Cox, the wife of Osbourne Cox; Richard Jenkins as the gym manager; and J. K. Simmons as a CIA supervisor.

<i>The American</i> (2010 film) 2010 film by Anton Corbijn

The American is a 2010 American action thriller film directed by Anton Corbijn and starring George Clooney, Thekla Reuten, Violante Placido, Irina Björklund, and Paolo Bonacelli. Based on the 1990 novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth, it was loosely adapted to screenplay by Rowan Joffé. The film was released on September 1, 2010. It received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $67 million worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For the First Time (Kenny Loggins song)</span> 1996 single by Kenny Loggins

"For the First Time" is a 1996 song performed by Kenny Loggins from the 1996 film One Fine Day starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney with music and lyrics by James Newton Howard, Jud J. Friedman, and Allan Dennis Rich and produced by Peter Asher. The song was included in the soundtrack of the film and is Loggins' one and only number one hit on the Adult Contemporary chart, remaining on the top spot for two weeks. It also peaked at number sixty on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. The song did not make the Billboard Hot 100 chart as it was not made available as a commercial single, which at that time made it ineligible to chart on the Hot 100. "For the First Time" was nominated for the Best Original Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Clooney filmography</span>

George Clooney is an American actor and filmmaker. He is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time with over $2.6 billion total box office gross and an average of $61.7 million per film. He has been involved in thirteen films that grossed over $200 million at the worldwide box office.

<i>The Family</i> (2013 film) 2013 film by Luc Besson

The Family is a 2013 black comedy crime film co-written and directed by Luc Besson, starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron, and John D'Leo. It follows a Mafia family in the witness protection program who want to change their lives. It is based on the French novel Malavita by Tonino Benacquista.

<i>Instructions Not Included</i> 2013 Mexican film

Instructions Not Included is a 2013 Mexican comedy-drama film co-written, directed by, and starring Eugenio Derbez. The plot follows a Mexican playboy who is suddenly saddled with a love child at his doorstep, and sets off to Los Angeles to find the mother. Released in the United States on August 30, 2013, the film received mixed reviews and grossed $100 million worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susie Diamond</span> Fictional character in the film The Fabulous Baker Boys

Susie Diamond is a fictional character who appears in the romantic musical comedy-drama film The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989). Portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer, Susie is a former escort who becomes a professional lounge singer when she is hired to help revitalize the career of The Fabulous Baker Boys, a waning piano duo consisting of brothers Jack and Frank Baker. Susie's addition to the group benefits both the trio's career and her own, but she also inadvertently generates conflict between the two brothers as Frank strongly disapproves of Jack's romantic interest in Susie, ultimately jeopardizing both the brothers' relationship with each other and the trio's future as a musical act.

References

  1. ↑ "One Fine Day (1996)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Turan, Kenneth (December 20, 1996). "'Fine Day' a Dawning for Clooney" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  3. ↑ Hruska, Bronwen (December 18, 1996). "Working Parents' Travail Informs 'One Fine Day'". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  4. ↑ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – One Fine Day". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  5. ↑ Elber, Lynn (December 26, 1996). "'Beavis and Butt-head' sets record". AP Entertainment Writer. The South Bend Tribune. p. 41. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ "One Fine Day". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Shaw, Jessica (January 10, 1997). "Pop Culture News: Christmas Wrap-Up". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  8. ↑ Maslin, Janet (December 20, 1996). "Meet. Fight. Fall in Love. What a Day!" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ Ebert, Roger (December 20, 1996). "One Fine Day". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022– via RogerEbert.com.
  10. ↑ Kempley, Rita (December 20, 1996). "A Sweet 'One Fine Day'". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
  11. ↑ Guthmann, Edward (December 20, 1996). "'One Fine Day' Is Forgettable Fun". San Francisco Chronicle . Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ Nelson, Rob (December 19, 1996). "Archives 1996". Boston Phoenix . Archived from the original on April 1, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
  13. ↑ "The 69th Academy Awards | 1997". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  14. 1 2 "One Fine Day (1996) – Awards". imdb.com. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  15. ↑ "One Fine Day – Golden Globes". Golden Globe Awards . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  16. ↑ "18th Youth In Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  17. ↑ Ellis, Rick (May 4, 1997). "1997's 2nd Annual Young Star Awards". AllYourTV.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  18. ↑ "40th Annual GRAMMY Awards". Grammy Awards . Retrieved May 1, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.