For the Boys (1991)

FOR THE BOYS manages to be entertaining although there are a lot of things wrong with it--notably, the make-up job for Midler's aging process and some vulgarity in the lines she utters that seem like anachronisms given the time period begins with the '40s-era and women in show biz weren't quite that vulgar in front of U.S. troops.JAMES CAAN does a snappy job of playing her self-absorbed, sexist song-and-dance husband who treats the various wars like a chance to strut his stuff before appreciative audiences, while Midler's character comes to understand the seriousness of war and what it does to America's finest young men, especially when her own son is killed during their act in Korea.Midler is especially good in the early sequences where she gets to do pretty much the sort of brassy routines she started out doing in show business. Here she plays a U.S.O. singer who joins a World War II tour run by Caan. It's not exactly a case of love at first sight--in fact, it's a clash of two strong egos that remains pretty tumultuous throughout the film.Patterned obviously after the careers of show biz troupers like Bob Hope and the sort of shows he put on for servicemen throughout the various wars, it's entertaining despite its length and owes most of its ability to hold interest due to Midler's self-confident central performance. She's a real trouper and steals just about every scene she's in. GEORGE SEGAL does a nice job as a writer mistreated by Caan who gets his revenge at an unusual Christmas party playing Santa.Midler is at her best when singing a few songs in her own inimitable style but the film drags whenever it deals with the more serious aspects of the story. CHRISTOPHER RYDELL (the director Mark Rydell's son) is terribly miscast as Midler's son and furthermore, looks nothing like the two youngsters that play him as a young boy. He's inept in a key scene where he talks about the horrors of war.It's an ambitious saga of show biz and war, but something about it seems awfully clichéd and artificial no matter how artfully director Mark Rydell has directed certain scenes.Summing up: A must for Midler fans and James Caan is good too as the aging scoundrel.

Bette Midler proves that she can single-handedly make a film worth watching in FOR THE BOYS, an overlong but rewarding comedy-drama with music which chronicles the relationship between singer Dixie Leonard and comic Eddie Sparks (James Caan), a character clearly patterned after Bob Hope, which begins during a WWII USO tour and concludes in the present where the glamorously aging couple are being reunited for a television special. Bette received her second Best Actress Oscar nomination for her commanding performance here, She lights up the screen whether Dixie is upstaging Eddie in front of thousands of troops during WWII, cursing out sponsors during her and Eddie's television show, or tearing Eddie a new one when she thinks he is trying to steal her son away from her. As expected, she makes the most of her musical moments in the film with "Stuff Like that There" and "Come Rain or Come Shine" as standouts. Caan works hard in the role of Eddie Sparks, managing to make a pretty despicable character rather likable for the majority of the story. The only big mistake here was director Mark Rydell's casting of his real-life son, Christopher in the pivotal role of Dixie's adult son. Rydell's lifeless performance is a major detriment to an important part of the film, but for the most part, FOR THE BOYS is grand entertainment, thanks to the Divine Miss M.

It's very easy to criticise a film like "for the boys", after all it is sentimental and there is singing, a sure fire vote killer. Despite this I liked it, in fact I more than liked it. Why because it has a heart it may be sentimental sometimes but it works, the singing works, and there isn't that much of it.The reason this film really works is Bette Midler that age old phrase a tour de force is the only thing that you can say, the woman is fantastic. Sassy, vulnerable, moving. She brings to the part a great depth and an impressive range of emotions, most of which are underplayed, making them all the more powerful for it. Well deserving of her Oscar nomination and a little robbed not being chosen as the winner. James Cann is also very good and the production values are high well written and all in all much better than you might think.Yes there are some dodgy bits like the old age make up, though the makeup in the sixties was better, the ending is weak and it was a pity to go out with a whimper considering the rest of the film had such balls. These though are not enough to spoil the film.

FOR THE BOYS might just be a "Better Midler" film today, in a period of another middle east war and albeit a more tragic and unpopular one with a far more critical and on going media focus than the first 1991 war.....This exceptionally well made musical drama, made for about $70 million in 1991 and really a protest musical parable, did not reach the intended at the time and the first Iraq war was over before this film had a chance to make an impact. Seen in 2006, now is actually the right time for this film. We are also quite a while from other Bette Midler films of the 80s and as a result FTB has a stronger solo spotlight. Having appreciated this film in that light, I believe it is possibly one of the last great semi musicals of the 20th century and is helped immeasurably by a very pungent script. At times it is not unlike NEW YORK NEW YORK both in look and romantic combat. Cann and Midler work so well against and with each other, underlined by George Segal in a role that is actually substantial for him. Apparently this is loosely based on the life of Martha Raye, who complained bitterly upon release that "this fact" was not recognized. FOR THE BOYS is a major musical film but tapers off tune wise in the last 40 minutes while the starling and harrowing (but slightly illogical) Vietnam War scenes are played out. Midler is front and center star at all times and the production values show the huge budget well spent on screen. If reissued today might get a better reception given the Iraq war to play against and therefore have more impact. It's a good film, serious and with excellent music and comedy in the first hour especially.