This is so watchable than its original Claude Lelouch's (La Bonne Année - 1973). It has its simplicity, yet it's more attractive and suave.
(Peter Falk) added a certain flavor to the role. After so many years in Lt. Columbo's coat in the TV, he dedicated to keep the same wittiness yet as a thief, hustler, gangster in the movies (The Brink's Job, Big Trouble, Vibes, Cookie..). He brought so much charisma and talent into it, which reminded me of the kind of roles that (Humphrey Bogart) would have played if he lived longer. His best scenes were the ones with the female lead, where his glamour was all over the screen to the extent that he needed no talking at all to express. (Wendy Hughes) wasn't up to all of this, not to mention a slight of silliness in her present apart, lacking any possible chemistry between her and (Falk). (Tom Courtenay) is a great actor, giving a great appeal to it, but actually the movie gave him nothing great to do.
There had to be (Harry and the Hendersons) to win the Oscar for the best make up in that year! Although I'm a big fan of (Harry..), but it's sort of irritating, because (Robert Laden) made a fine job indeed. I dare you if you showed (Peter Falk)'s picture as an old woman, for anybody who didn't watch this movie, that they would identify or even guess who on earth is that? Maybe it got something to do with making a wholly fable character as in (Harry..) more than putting diligence into another woman disguise. (Bill Conti) is one composer who you wait nothing bad or so-so from him, and he always fulfills that. (John G. Avildsen) dealt with it fine, whereas it's not a caper movie only, it's a romantic tale also. The 1980s' feel is overwhelming, the serene colors are here, and the comic atmosphere is in the smartness of the heist's details, so the witty performance's moments.
The best about it, else giving the lead role to 60 year old actor, is that it has a deep meaning under the amusing surface as well. The story says it plainly: she forgave him as a thief, and he forgave her affair while he was in jail. And I loved what seemed as implied, very wicked, meaning also, where being uneducated yet clever thief is better than being a sophisticated artiest (or vain pedant!), as the first kind is too intelligent, a human that stumbles sometimes, and learns about it, so honest when it comes to love, and - most of all - doesn't brag. It's a tribute to the simple man who can be sophisticated in his own area, and a case of a woman who wants to find herself away from any deceiving aspects with someone who understands love and deserves it, even if he was originally a deceiver himself! Actually, the 2 of them were thieves and crooks in a way, but love can work things out. And I think it's only in the movies when you feel happy because the criminal gets away with it at the end!
Compared to the few heist movies in the 1980s (small list with titles like: Tough Guys, Green Ice, A Fish Called Wanda,..), (Happy New Year) is sure memorable with special personality, being an interesting heist with a love lesson too. It's all in the double narration by (Falk) and (Durning) which was so nice, smart and thrilling. Martin Scorsese' (Casino) would use something like it 8 years later.
(Peter Falk) added a certain flavor to the role. After so many years in Lt. Columbo's coat in the TV, he dedicated to keep the same wittiness yet as a thief, hustler, gangster in the movies (The Brink's Job, Big Trouble, Vibes, Cookie..). He brought so much charisma and talent into it, which reminded me of the kind of roles that (Humphrey Bogart) would have played if he lived longer. His best scenes were the ones with the female lead, where his glamour was all over the screen to the extent that he needed no talking at all to express. (Wendy Hughes) wasn't up to all of this, not to mention a slight of silliness in her present apart, lacking any possible chemistry between her and (Falk). (Tom Courtenay) is a great actor, giving a great appeal to it, but actually the movie gave him nothing great to do.
There had to be (Harry and the Hendersons) to win the Oscar for the best make up in that year! Although I'm a big fan of (Harry..), but it's sort of irritating, because (Robert Laden) made a fine job indeed. I dare you if you showed (Peter Falk)'s picture as an old woman, for anybody who didn't watch this movie, that they would identify or even guess who on earth is that? Maybe it got something to do with making a wholly fable character as in (Harry..) more than putting diligence into another woman disguise. (Bill Conti) is one composer who you wait nothing bad or so-so from him, and he always fulfills that. (John G. Avildsen) dealt with it fine, whereas it's not a caper movie only, it's a romantic tale also. The 1980s' feel is overwhelming, the serene colors are here, and the comic atmosphere is in the smartness of the heist's details, so the witty performance's moments.
The best about it, else giving the lead role to 60 year old actor, is that it has a deep meaning under the amusing surface as well. The story says it plainly: she forgave him as a thief, and he forgave her affair while he was in jail. And I loved what seemed as implied, very wicked, meaning also, where being uneducated yet clever thief is better than being a sophisticated artiest (or vain pedant!), as the first kind is too intelligent, a human that stumbles sometimes, and learns about it, so honest when it comes to love, and - most of all - doesn't brag. It's a tribute to the simple man who can be sophisticated in his own area, and a case of a woman who wants to find herself away from any deceiving aspects with someone who understands love and deserves it, even if he was originally a deceiver himself! Actually, the 2 of them were thieves and crooks in a way, but love can work things out. And I think it's only in the movies when you feel happy because the criminal gets away with it at the end!
Compared to the few heist movies in the 1980s (small list with titles like: Tough Guys, Green Ice, A Fish Called Wanda,..), (Happy New Year) is sure memorable with special personality, being an interesting heist with a love lesson too. It's all in the double narration by (Falk) and (Durning) which was so nice, smart and thrilling. Martin Scorsese' (Casino) would use something like it 8 years later.