John and Mary1969
John and Mary (1969)
John and Mary Photos
Movie Info
Cast
as John
as Mary
as James
as Ruth
as Ernest
as Hilary
as Jane
as Fran
as Dean
as Mags Elliot
as Minnie
as John's Mother
as Tennis Player
as Charlie
as Film Director
as His Wife
as Imaginary Film Director
as Boy Scout
Critic Reviews for John and Mary
All Critics (9) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (5) | DVD (2)
Director Yates knows how to shape even the sketchiest scenario, and if John and Mary is no deeper than an eggshell, it is every bit as functionally designed.
The entire charade is smoothly contrived.
Hoffman and Farrow awake to each other in a New York bed and interminably worry, via chat, fantasy, flashback and some trendy cultural reference, whether they should do it again.
There is nothing wrong with the idea of John and Mary, just with its execution.
John and Mary is supposed to be a contemporary movie, I guess, and yet it's curiously out of touch.
Although John Mortimer's script takes a slightly lazy path, mixing up trendy fantasy and trendy fact as though it's no longer worth the trouble of distinguishing them, his dialogue seems to come easily.
Audience Reviews for John and Mary
Still under the spell of a pixiesque Mia Farrow (Sinatra, you were a moron for letting her go...!) its damn near impossible for me to give anything resembling a subjective opinion of John and Mary, but I liked it. I can see why its not the movie brought up with you think of Dustin Hoffman or even Farrow's best work but director Peter Yates wonderfully (and somewhat confusingly) intercuts might haves and flashbacks with the present story. The voiceover thoughts were kind of dumb though. Hoffman's great in a quirky way and Farrow was an absolute doll. The story's nice and simple even if there are a few dopey and dated parts to it. John and Mary is a nice little jem that's definitely worth an hour and a half.
Super Reviewer
I will say that Mia Farrow in this is amazing, easily one of her best performances and one of the most adorable characters. It's as if she channels the spirit of Audrey Hepburn with her. I really like the overall concept as well, it's a very interesting way about telling a love story. What really kept me from loving the movie was Dustin Hoffman's John. Not so much the acting but the character himself, he's just such a scumbag and poor excuse for a "good guy". Maybe that's what was trying to be accomplished, but it just seemed like he was the voice of the story. I'd still say this a great movie, it just doesn't have you rooting for the two to end up together.
Super Reviewer
Mia Farrow has such an unconventional sex appeal. Film is very clever in revealing flashbacks and what-ifs, however I'm not sure what to take away from it's discussion of sexual politics. The end is a little too reductive (even for a movie) - John and Mary decide they are right for each other and Mary reverts to a "typical" woman role in the kitchen.
Super Reviewer
John and Mary Quotes
| Mary: | Its a very festive area, young men with poodles live there. |
| Mary: | It's a very festive area, young men with poodles live there. |