‘Jake’s Women’ Covers Familiar Ground
Imagine conjuring up loved ones in your mind and then spending your days conversing with them and having them interact with each other. That’s what Jake (Alan Alda), a writer with an overactive imagination, does endlessly in “Neil Simon’s ‘Jake’s Women,”’ CBS Sunday at 9.
After his current wife (Anne Archer) leaves him, Jake spends much of the movie, based on Neil Simon’s Broadway play, holding free-of-charge therapy sessions with a pretend therapist (Joyce Van Patten). In addition, he seeks words of wisdom from make-believe versions of his late wife (Mira Sorvino), pushy sister (Julie Kavner), and loving daughter at two different ages (Kimberly Williams, age 21; Ashley Peldon, age 11).
Of course, no other mortals can see these imaginary friends, which sounds like the makings for an uproarious comedy. However, there’s little punch to most of the lines. The focus is on being romantic, sarcastic and not comedic.
There’s a repetitiveness to the script. Jake covers the same old male midlife crisis material too many times.
You can easily imagine better viewing elsewhere.
Highlights
“Crimes of the Century,” NBC Sunday at 7: Crime may not pay in the real world. But on the small screen, it’s big bucks.
More network time has been set aside to examine violent crime. And this special (unavailable for review) promises the “most sensational, intriguing crimes in American history.” Yawn.
“Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” (1993), NBC Sunday at 8:30: This film biography traces the hardships faced by martial-arts master and movie star Bruce Lee (1940-73). Jason Scott Lee (no relation to Bruce) plays the lead role in this tale that’s mostly weepy but has some kick, especially in the expert martial-arts segment.
“Dalva” (1996), ABC Sunday at 9: Farrah Fawcett brings to life Jim Harrison’s tale of a woman’s effort to recover from being forced to put her only child up for adoption. To help Dalva (Fawcett) find the right path is a philosophical, sexy Native American (Powers Boothe) and a buffoon professor (Peter Coyote).
There’s lots of chemistry as Fawcett and Boothe steam up the screen. Boothe is to swoon over, and Coyote offers comedic relief. It’s not the usual TV love triangle. “Dalva” offers intelligent life.