Stanley & Iris (1990)

I don't want to talk about the two movie icons in this film, I just want to talk about the poor logic flaws in this film.Stanley was not an immigrant from the none English speaking foreign country, he's an American, born in America. He grew up in America, educated in the American education system, even he's an orphan, he would have been educated from the elementary school to junior high, to high school. That's a basic American underage education provided freely by the American government. Even if by any chance he might be a person with serious learning disability, he at least could have learned how to read and write the basic English. So there's no way this Stanley character created by this stupid film could not read or write A to Z alphabets, his own first and last names, read the street signs. He's not a retard person born with serious brain damage. Even a deaf child would have the ability to learn how to read and write. Yet this Stanley guy, born in America, could not read or write, even his own full name. Hey, this is not the primitive 200 years ago America, boy never got the chance going to school, so he could write and sign his name with a big X like Indians. The Stanley guy was later fired due to his illiteracy. The excuse to fire him was he might do something wrong in his food processing job. BUT, a VERY BIG "but", how come he could be hired by the bakery factory in the first place? Did he have to sign his name with the HR Dept. when he was hired?Although both leading actors performed nicely in this somewhat awkward and too predictable romantic film, there were so many question marks and flaws in this film that could never be justified or explained. It's like building a structure without foundation. Even building a wood cabin, you still need to build a foundation first. Without foundation, nothing can stand. It bothered me extremely when I tried to watch this film, because its poorly founded logic blocked me to watch it blindly. I just couldn't sweep the illogic storyline, the basic premises of a scenario under the carpet and shifted my focus to the later bloomed romance. A love story built on a ridiculous foundation simply couldn't stand long enough with a basic reasoning logic.

Stanley & Iris takes a stab at a very overlooked topic: adult illiteracy. When Jane Fonda finds out Robert De Niro has survived his entire life hiding his illiteracy, she sets out to help him. She teaches him how to read, and they become friends. He's shy and she's still grieving over her late husband, so romance isn't in the cards—at first. . .Even though this isn't a film I have any desire to watch over and over again, it really is a good movie. Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch write some interesting and realistic situations in the beginning of the film that show how Robert De Niro could get away with not being able to read. When the friendship between the two leads turns into something more, the love scenes are once again written realistically. Jane isn't ready for love, and her character's actions are consistent with her heart's needs. I won't spoil anything, but there's a scene where Jane sobs uncontrollably because she isn't ready to give her heart to someone new, and it's extremely touching. Many times, Hollywood produces a love story aimed at younger people who haven't suffered real heartbreaks yet and can approach love with bright eyes. Stanley & Iris is an adult love story. Anyone who's loved and lived to tell the tale will appreciate this movie.

Stanley & Iris is a romantic drama that features two big stars in Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro. The screenplay by Harriet Frank, Jr. and Irving Ravetch is loosely based on the novel Union Street by Pat Barker.Swoosie Kurtz,Martha Plimpton,Harley Cross and Jamey Sheridan co- star to play key supporting roles. This movie is about an odd love story between a widow and an illiterate.It was directed by Martin Ritt. In this socially conscious drama with romantic overtones, Iris is a working mother with a job at a large commercial bakery who is still getting over the death of her husband, though her circumstances don't give her much time to grieve. She's sharing her house with her two children, Kelly and Richard; her unemployed sister, Sharon; and her thuggish brother-in-law. The tensions at home become even greater when the teen-aged Kelly announces that she's pregnant. One of the few bright spots in Iris' life is her blossoming friendship with Stanley, a nice guy who works in the bakery's cafeteria. However, Iris starts noticing a few odd things about Stanley and it slowly dawns on her that he can't read. When the boss figures this out, Stanley loses his job which is an especially troubling development, as Stanley has just had to put his father in a retirement home. Homeless and out of work, Stanley turns to Iris with a special request which is he'd like her to teach him how to read.The elements are in place but they don't add up to great drama in this well-meant effort to personalize the plight of illiterate people.But nevertheless,it's as honest and direct and entertaining as the considerable talents of everyone involved can make it.There is also a good supporting cast here, and Fonda is effective in her role. But it's DeNiro who shines with a very affecting performance, as well as a natural chemistry with Fonda.That is why this movie with many flaws is a harmless little romance that's elevated by the charisma of its two stars.

This may not be a memorable classic, but it is a touching romance with an important theme that stresses the importance of literacy in modern society and the devastating career and life consequences for any unfortunate individual lacking this vital skill.The story revolves around Iris, a widow who becomes acquainted with a fellow employee at her factory job, an illiterate cafeteria worker named Stanley. Iris discovers that Stanley is unable to read, and after he loses his job, she gives him reading lessons at home in her kitchen. Of course, as you might predict, the two, although initially wary of involvement, develop feelings for each other...Jane Fonda competently plays Iris, a woman with problems of her own, coping with a job lacking prospects, two teenage children (one pregnant), an unemployed sister and her abusive husband. However, Robert DeNiro is of course brilliant in his endearing portrayal of the intelligent and resourceful, but illiterate, Stanley, bringing a dignity to the role that commands respect. They aren't your typical charming young yuppie couple, as generally depicted in on screen romances, but an ordinary working class, middle aged pair with pretty down to earth struggles.I won't give the ending away, but it's a lovely, heartwarming romance and a personal look into the troubling issue of adult illiteracy, albeit from the perspective of a fictional character.