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Terms of Endearment

EMAILPRINTParamount Pictures

Terms of Endearment reviews
79
10.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 2 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: James L. Brooks
Larry McMurtry (novel)

Directed by: James L. Brooks

Release Date:
Theatrical: November 23, 1983
DVD: April 10, 2001

Running Time: 132 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG

Starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow

Following the mother-daughter relationship of Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) who doesn't like it when her daughter Emma (Winger) marries Flap (Daniels).

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

This is a wonderful film. There isn't a thing that I would change.

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100

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott

Terms of Endearment is the rare commercial picture that sets audiences to laughing hysterically and crying unashamedly, sometimes within consecutive seconds, and then shoos them out of the theatre in contented emotional exhaustion. [23 Nov 1983]

100

Time Richard Schickel

No film since Preston Sturges was a pup has so shrewdly appreciated the way the eccentric plays hide-and-seek with the respectable in the ordinary American landscape; no comedy since Annie Hall or Manhattan has so intelligently observed not just the way people live now but what's going on in the back of their minds; and finally, and in full knowledge that one may be doing the marketing department's job for them, it is the best movie of the year.

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100

Boston Globe Jay Carr

It rates a resounding yes because it doesn't insult our emotional intelligence. [23 Nov 1983]

88

TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

Lopsided comedy turned tearjerker, saved by excellent performances.

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80

Variety Staff (Not Credited)

Teaming of Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson at their best makes Terms of Endearment an enormously enjoyable offering for Christmas, adding bite and sparkle when sentiment and seamlessness threatens to sink other parts of the picture.

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80

The New York Times Janet Maslin

Terms of Endearment is a funny, touching, beautifully acted film that covers more territory than it can easily manage.

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80

Empire Staff (Not Credited)

James L. Brooks's clever and witty cry-a-long which has as many guys pretending not to cry, as women unashamedly sobbing.

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50

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

There's not enough substance to support the sentiment of this longish comedy-drama.

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40

Chicago Reader Dave Kehr

The dual-track plot, with constant cutting between mother and daughter, seems less an attempt to establish meaningful parallels between the two stories than the nervous twitches of a compulsive channel changer.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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