Same Time Next Year

Article 026.

First of all, I am not about to segue into reviewing movies like IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Just not my thing albeit I love movies and have a lot of opinion about the ones I like (and hate). But inspired by a recent conversation I had, here I am, finding myself watching this 1978 film starring Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda, while doing overdue laundry. Nothing better to inspire your folding of clothes like watching an old rom-com classic.

Secondly, it's probably hard to find this movie online or via Blu-Ray because it's really old and not entirely a big hit, although online reviews have this film at 4-stars. Yet on the contrary, I wouldn't be surprised if you do find it, what with all the streaming services available nowadays. The question is would you pay for it? So if you're a cheapskate like me, then let me just give you a glimpse of what this is all about. I mean you can read the entire plot online as well but why? You have me haha!

The plot. Totally absurd. But if this was back in the 1950s where the words social and media were never linked together, then it is plausible. It was 1951 at Sea Shadows Inn somewhere in Mendocino (the Heritage House Resort in real life for those who are curious enough). George, an accountant, married with 3 children and lives in New Jersey, visits the west coast once a year to cater to a business client, his first ever, which proved to be sentimental that's why he goes out of his way for this annual trip. Oakland-based Doris, also married and a mother of 2 at that time, alleges to attend a "spiritual retreat" (or at least uses that as her alibi) to avoid accompanying her husband to Bakersfield to visit his mother for her birthday. Doris' Mother-in-law hates her for getting pregnant very young, essentially blaming her for his son's short stop of a great career. Coincidentally, both individual events happen to be on the same weekend every year and both George and Doris stays, you guessed it, at the same resort.

On the night of their first encounter, having dinner by themselves separately but eyeing each other from afar, they came together and immediately hit it off. And like any I-didn't-know-what-I-was-doing excuse that night, they ended up sleeping together (surprise!). The morning-after scene shows George waking up and realizing that he was in bed with Doris. So he tries to sneak out before Doris wakes up herself but was too late to do so. They discuss about it and George admits that he is in love with Doris. Now how can that be? How can one night of just sheer attraction, personality and conversation be enough to call this thing love? Can any of the hopeless romantics here attest? So instead of chalking it down to experience and leaving it all behind them, they agreed to a sexual tryst from there on out, same time every year, same place. If you think about it, the sustainability of such commitment is just absurd. All they got is "love"? Get outta here! But let's play along...

The film jumps forward 5 years at a time (thank goodness) as it chronicles their time together, stories about their own families and marriages, and even to a degree showcasing the progress of current events and how it influenced them as a person. Interesting enough, they project a totally new person every time rendezvous day comes up to both their surprise. There was even a scene where George got out of the bathroom, robed up and ready for a night of love-making, only to see Doris turning around from where she's standing all 8 months pregnant. What kinda of a sick twist is that? Imagine what George was feeling? To top it off, Doris got into labor prematurely and George had to deliver her baby in the same room. This was their finest moment, is what they claim.

Another five years into it and the next scene shows that Doris becomes and dresses up like a hippie while George completely did a 360 and voiced out his new found love for conservatism. Inevitably resulting into a clash between their political beliefs until George reveals that his son was killed in the Vietnam war, bringing them both in tears and closer yet again. The next few five-year jump scenes would show yet new personalities that they've become throughout the time apart including George and his family moving out to Los Angeles and Doris becoming a grandma. It also featured how time took a toll on their lives, yet there they are, still keeping their annual vow alive like a true married couple. Until 1977, which I believe is the last scene. Doris notices that George hasn't brought down his bags from the car only for him to say that he wasn't staying. George admits that his wife found out about their affair ten years ago yet didn't confront him until earlier that year. She found out through her close friend Connie who saw them (George and Doris) together where they would always meet. Sadly, George's wife died a few months earlier. Now a widower, George found the opportunity to propose to Doris saying that if she doesn't accept, he would probably end with Connie and knowing her, would not be putting up with their nonsense. In short, this would most likely be their last meeting. Despite the heavy heart, Doris rejected George just out of respect for her husband. Dejected, George walks out of the room and bid his good bye while Doris is in tears. The end. Nah! Of course George comes storming back inside and vows to keep seeing her until they physically can. NOW it's the happy romantic ending everybody wants.

I didn't have high expectations about the movie but for 1978, I think it's an awesome feel-good story. I like in particular how they always have something good and bad to say about their respective spouses during each meet. I even find Doris the most attractive in the scene where she announced her being a grandmother. I think because they couldn't make Ellen Burstyn old enough to look like a grandma that's why I find her there the hottest. And for some reason, Alan Alda's voice kinda annoys me. I can't get rid of his tone as that executive in the Mel Gibson movie What Women Want. But it helps greatly that the theme song of the movie, The Last Time I Felt Like This by Johnny Mathis and Jane Olivor [https://youtu.be/aJ8F23b58Qo?si=iLxHgV5I9VtGyRaC], starts, goes and ends with it. Over-all, I liked this film based on a 1975 play by Bernard Slade, despite me being skeptical that they can sustain the fire seeing each other only once a year (yes, still hung up on that). I certainly don't want to be in that situation but would love to know if you know anyone who's crazy enough to do so? Or better yet, would you?

George and Doris