Coupe de Ville (1990)

I don't know who owns the rights to this film, but I am not alone on my rating of this film. I have checked the main page of this movie on this web site every 2 days or so. I like to think my DVD collection is full of all of the classics ever made, including very famous movies and the greatest movies that people have never seen. This is the only movie that I am dying to have in my collection. How is it that with Patrick Dempsey's recent fame and Alan Arkin's new Oscar (it was about time) this movie is still not available? The movie is absolutely hilarious, it's full of great scenes and classic lines. It's funny, it's emotional, it's dramatic, it's realistic and it's all in one movie. So rare these days. But, how do we get it?

I can't believe this movie is still not available on DVD. It's one of my favorite comedy movies ever. The three brothers are fantastic in this movie: Patrick Dempsey (Can't Buy Me Love), Arye Gross (Soulman) and Daniel Stern (Home Alone. The youngest brother (Dempsey) is the wildest and reminds us all who we were or wanted to be at that age. The middle brother (Gross)is the wise one, with a lovely girlfriend and a college degree. The oldest brother (Stern) is the tough and stronger brother with a lot off discipline. They don't get along but because their dad tells them to, they have to drive a Coupe De Ville from Detroit to Florida together. During the road-trip to Florida they're getting to know each other and find out what brotherly-love means. And an impressive supporting-role by Joseph Bologna.

This is one of the best all time sleeper hits. I have yet to recommend this someone who hasn't liked it. A wonderful, brother film. A nice story about 3 brothers who learn about each other, and what they mean to their family.

Coupe de Ville is just one of those films that you like, but can't put your finger on quite why! The direction - by Roth - is straightforward and not terribly unique. The script is just the right side of sentimental. The actors are by no means A-League big-hitters. But this is quite possibly what makes this film so good. It is a film that you watch with absolutely no expectations. By the end of it however you know that what you have just watched, has touched some part of you that has not been touched for a long time. The trio of Stern, Dempsey and Gross are nigh on perfect. The beauty in their acting is, that they act just like brothers. They feel right as a bickering trio of siblings. But the real boon of this film lies in Alan Arkin. So often Alan Arkin has simply played a variation on a theme. But hear the bronchial tones of his voice are given a stage perfectly suited to them. It is with Arkin that the real emotional punch of the movie lies, and working like a super-extended episode of 'The Wonder Years', it suckers you every time. The pacing is perfect, the cast truly 'stellar', the music absolutely incredible. Besides I never would have known that 'Louie, Louie' was a sea-shanty, and for that alone this deserves viewing. A hidden gem.