| | | He Thought Dating Would Be Easy... Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Mono Audio, English, Subtitled A world-class neurotic, Robert Cole (Albert Brooks, The Muse) just can't stop thinking about Mary (Kathyrn Harrold, Raw Deal). Especially after he breaks up with her. Fanatically obsessed with the beautiful bank exec, he repeatedly wins her back and then immediately loses her again by grilling her long-distance callers, harassing her business clients, and dogging her every movement. But even as Robert and Mary head for another breakup, there's still hope for them yet. Because when it comes to true love, it ain't over 'til it's over.System Requirements:Run Time: 94 min.Format: DVD MOVIE "An early-career winner from Albert Brooks." Scott Weinberg, Efilmcritic.com
 Editor's Note
 Film editor Robert Cole is breaking up with his girlfriend, Mary--again. Even Mary doesn't really believe he's serious. Sure enough, after 24 hours of trying to start his life over by launching a new exercise program and setting up a date with a woman he once met but can't seem to remember, he becomes desperate to be back with his former love. Mary takes him back, and the codependent couple finds themselves right back in their old dysfunctional patterns of jealousy and insecurity--but at least the sex is great. Albert Brooks again shows his ability to analyze and deconstruct the most everyday elements of life with humor and empathy in this wry, comic view of relationships. George Kennedy has a hilarious cameo as himself in the film-within-the-film that Brooks's character is editing, and director James L. Brooks appears as the neurotic director of the same film.
 Plot Summary
 MODERN ROMANCE is Albert Brooks's sendup of relationships in the 1980s. Brooks is a sound man for movies, struggling to maintain a modern attitude about love despite his old-fashioned values. The quaalude scene is a comedy classic.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital Stereo |  | Interactive Menus |  | Scene Selection |  | Subtitles: English |
| Technical Info
| Release Information
|  | Studio: Sony Pictures |
 | Release Date: 4/22/2008 |
 | Running Time: 94 minutes |
 | Original Release Date: 1981 |  | Catalog ID: 13276 |  | UPC: 00043396132764 |  | Number of Discs: 1 | Audio & Video
|  | Original Language: English |  | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English |  | Available Subtitles: English |  | Video: Color | Aspect Ratio |  | Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Memorable Quotes| "Look, this has nothing to do with 'ludes. It's just a person saying to another person, 'I love you.'"----Robert Cole (Albert Brooks) making a quaalude--influenced declaration of friendship for his assistant, Jay (Bruno Kirby) | | "Look how many friends I've got!...Mr. Popularity, Mr. Popularity!"----Robert to his disinterested parakeet, Petey | | "I just broke up with somebody. I'm just going to buy a few gifts."----Robert to a parking--lot attendant |
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety "...Brooks gets good performances....Bob Einstein is particularly amusing..." 03/11/1981New York Times "...It takes time for the full measure of this movie's meandering, heartfelt nuttiness to make itself known..." 03/13/1981 p.C8 New York Times "[S]omething fresh, real and, at least to date, completely inimitable." 05/16/2006 p.E3 USA Today "Among the best Brooks outings, this is a movie of twisted prime moments." 05/12/2006 p.4E Film Critic 8 of 10 Alas, that's not really in the cards, and Modern Romance has its best moments when it has nothing to do with the Brooks-Harrold story, but rather when Bruno Kirby -- as Brooks's best friend -- is on screen. Another highlight is the film that Brooks and Kirby are editing, an absurd, cheesy sci-fi romp starring George Kennedy. - Christopher Null Reel 8 of 10 What's interesting about Modern Romance is thinking about how much movie relationships had changed by the early 1980's. Brooks' predicament isn't something we'd really seen in a film before this (aside from maybe Woody Allen, but his comedy, as psychologically obsessed as it is, strays into different areas than Brooks'). - Kim Morgan
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