Terms of Endearment (1983)
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 39
Fresh: 34 | Rotten: 5
A classic tearjerker, Terms of Endearment isn't shy about reaching for the heartstrings -- but is so well-acted and smartly scripted that it's almost impossible to resist.
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1
A classic tearjerker, Terms of Endearment isn't shy about reaching for the heartstrings -- but is so well-acted and smartly scripted that it's almost impossible to resist.
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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 34,792
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Movie Info
Terms of Endearment covers three decades in the lives of widow Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Fiercely protected by Aurora throughout childhood, Emma runs into resistance from her mother when she marries wishy-washy college teacher Flap (Jeff Daniels). Aurora is even more put out at the prospect of being a grandmother, though she grows a lot fonder of her three grandkids than she does of her son-in-law. Flap proves that Aurora's instincts were on target
Nov 23, 1983 Wide
Apr 10, 2001
Paramount Home Video
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Cast
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Debra Winger
Emma Greenaway -
Shirley MacLaine
Aurora Greenaway -
Jack Nicholson
Garrett Breedlove -
Jeff Daniels
Flap -
John Lithgow
Sam Burns -
Huckleberry Fox
Teddy -
Troy Bishop
Tommy -
Danny DeVito
Vernon -
Lisa Hart Carroll
Patsy -
Betty King
Rosie -
Norman Bennett
Edward -
Kate Charleson
Janice -
Jennifer Josey
Young Emma Greenway -
Nancy Mette
Woman at Party -
Megan Morris
Melanie -
F. William Parker
Doctor -
Shane Serwin
Young Tommy Horton -
David Wohl
Phil -
Tara Yeakey
Baby Melanie -
Albert Brooks
Rudyard -
Mary Kay Place
Doris -
Alexandra O'Karma
Jane -
Paul Menzel
Dr. Maise -
Michelle Watkins
Woman -
Charles Beall
Rudyard's Employer -
Sharisse Baker-Bernard
Lee Anne -
Judith Dickerson
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All Critics (39) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (5) | DVD (8)
Terms of Endearment is about three relationships and students of screenwriting would do well to study the way in which these three stories are told completely and effortlessly in a movie of average length.
Top CriticIts quirky rhythms and veering emotional tones are very much its own, and they owe less to movie tradition than they do to a sense of how the law of unintended consequences pushes us ceaselessly through the years, permitting no pause for perspective.
Brooks' dialog is wonderful throughout and all the characters carry off their assignments beautifully, even down to Danny De Vito and Norman Bennett as MacLaine's other suffering suitors.
[Writer-director James L. Brooks] has television in his soul: his people are incredibly tiny (most are defined by a single stroke of obsessive behavior), and he chokes out his narrative in ten-minute chunks, separated by aching lacunae.
Then The Illness strikes, and the film changes gear completely, pulling out all the stops.
The most remarkable achievement of Terms of Endearment, which is filled with great achievements, is its ability to find the balance between the funny and the sad, between moments of deep truth and other moments of high ridiculousness.
There's not enough substance to support the sentiment of this longish comedy-drama.
This is American mainstream movie-making at its best.
Glossy, funny, and packs a real emotional wallop.
The tragi-comedy never made me reach for my hankie, never tickled my funny bone and it never found a way into my heart.
This hugely successful tear-jerker boasts some magnificent on-screen chemistry between Jack Nicholson and Shirley MacLaine.
No-wonder Jack was so keen to land this role. It was simply perfect for him.
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger are fantastic as a mother and daughter who individually face life's challenges and end up stronger because of it.
Something for everyone, indeed.
Blending comedy and melodrama, this is basically a TV sitcom, marked by a sentimental tone and traditional view of women.
Sad themes, but wonderful ensemble acting.
Audience Reviews for Terms of Endearment
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Aurora Greenaway: Would you like to come in?
- Garrett Breedlove: I'd rather stick needles in my eyes.
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