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Terms of Endearment (1983)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 36
Fresh: 32 | Rotten: 4

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: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 4 | 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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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

PG, 2 hr. 12 min.

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: James L. Brooks

In Theaters: Nov 23, 1983 Wide

On DVD: Apr 10, 2001

Paramount Home Video

Terms of Endearment Trailer & Photos

Cast

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
Checkout Girl

Critic Reviews for Terms of Endearment

All Critics (36) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (4) | DVD (8)

Its 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.

February 20, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

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.

February 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

James Harwood

Variety

Top Critic

[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.

December 17, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

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.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

A funny, touching, beautifully acted film that covers more territory than it can easily manage.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

Glossy, funny, and packs a real emotional wallop.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Randy White

Common Sense Media

The tragi-comedy never made me reach for my hankie, never tickled my funny bone and it never found a way into my heart.

March 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comments (2)

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This hugely successful tear-jerker boasts some magnificent on-screen chemistry between Jack Nicholson and Shirley MacLaine.

February 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

No-wonder Jack was so keen to land this role. It was simply perfect for him.

February 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Empire Magazine

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.

December 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy

| Comment

Wesley Lovell

Oscar Guy

Something for everyone, indeed.

December 17, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Blending comedy and melodrama, this is basically a TV sitcom, marked by a sentimental tone and traditional view of women.

July 27, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Then The Illness strikes, and the film changes gear completely, pulling out all the stops.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Sad themes, but wonderful ensemble acting.

October 16, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Terms of Endearment

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A great film! So touching. Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger both give great performances! I had originally given this film a 4/5 rating. However I have recently decided to bump it up to a 4.5/5. I will never forget this film...the acting, the story, the characters, the execution...it's an extremely well done film.

February 2, 2011

Jameson Worley

Super Reviewer

Soap opera saga of a feature film is like baking honey into a pie: it's deliciously sweet, but it's not what we're at all used to.When I turned on TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, I was full-out ready to hate it. But by the end, my decision was that I had enjoyed it well enough, but it did NOT deserve a Best Picture Oscar. Lots

September 26, 2011