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Continental Divide

Play trailer Poster for Continental Divide PG Released Oct 18, 1981 1h 43m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Chicago reporter Ernie Souchak (John Belushi) is beaten up by double-dealing police officers after he writes about an unethical city councilman. Hoping to keep Ernie safe, his editor, Howard McDermott (Allen Goorwitz), tells him to head west. In Wyoming, Ernie strikes up a romance with bird scientist Nell Porter (Blair Brown), but as soon as he goes home, he's drawn back into city politics. With Nell about to discuss her research in Chicago, this might be the couple's last chance to reunite.
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Continental Divide

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This all sounds predictable, of course, and yet this movie's predictability is one of its charms. It's rare these days to find a film that is basically content to be about a colorful man and an eccentric woman who are opposites and yet fall madly in love. Rated: 3/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Glenn Abel The Hollywood Reporter Rated: 2/5 Jun 4, 2004 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The film is at its best when it ignores their relationship and concentrates on other matters. Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 5, 2020 Full Review Bernard Drew Gannett News Service Under Michael Apted's direction, Belushi gives it a good try. But we will have to wait for another role before we can decide whether Belushi can play it straight. Feb 9, 2019 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid It's very slight and grows less interesting as Belushi's character is tamed, but it's a rare, welcome look a the late, great comedian's romantic side. May 30, 2008 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Rated: 3/5 Nov 10, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Doo H Very cute movie. Good role for Belushi. Enjoyed it back in the 80's and is still enjoyable in the mid 2020's. Glad to see the American Bald Eagle has recovered since then. Too bad most outdoor scenes were shot in WA and not WY. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Audience Member In running for most disappointing movie all time. Also for most lack of chemistry between romantic leads. Big big sad misfire. Coke habit finally caught up with Belushi, think Blobbo. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member What happens on the continental divide? Friendship, social encounters, togetherness, survival but mostly it's about saying goodbye over and over again Jim Belushi and Blair Brown play Ernie and Nell; the two meet and naturally butt heads They can't stand each other since one isn't used to Mother Nature while the other is totally in tune Ernie is on the run after writing an article about a councilman and being beaten by corrupt policemen He then heads west to Wyoming where a bird scientist Nell is residing in the mountains She's passionate about her work to protect the poultry wildlife So as the movie goes on they both see a common ground and fall in love A colorful man and eccentric woman can still find ways to connect despite being total opposites The movie focusing on other things doesn't hurt either, it's more than a standard romance Plus it's nice to see the late Belushi's softer side of things Fantastic scenery helps the story's predictable charms too Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Absurdo e improvável, mas tão fofinho, que é difícil não amar, adoro esses romances previsíveis, que começam com uma grande antipatia e desavença, com uma meia trama policial, o ponto alto foi as situações cômicas no alto da montanha e um triangulo amoroso improvável… Triste, termos perdido John Belushi, um ano após esse filme, aos 33, de overdose acidental, em que um corista foi condenada por aplicar a injeção, triste… Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I heard about the movie years ago, where it was John Belushi playing against type. I finally saw it in the library and picked it up for evening entertainment. Good thing I didn't pay for it. Belushi plays a very popular reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times who prints plenty of embarrassing stories about a Chicago alderman, with the result that he gets beaten up and put into a hospital. His boss comes to him and has him travel to the Rocky Mountains on assignment to try to interview a reclusive female eagle researcher. He is unhappy to go there, but has no choice, and after quite a bit of mountain climbing, he reaches her cabin. There are some mild laughs, and the idea could perhaps have been good, but everyone seems to be going through the motions, and the movie ends up feeling lifeless and dull. Not only Belushi but everybody else seems out of place here, Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review steve d Forgettable and not the least bit funny. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Continental Divide

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Cast & Crew

Continental Divide

Continental Divide: Official Clip - The Oldest Church in America Continental Divide: Official Clip - The Oldest Church in America 2:55 Continental Divide: Official Clip - A Secret Rendezvous Continental Divide: Official Clip - A Secret Rendezvous 2:40 Continental Divide: Official Clip - Eagle Poachers Continental Divide: Official Clip - Eagle Poachers 2:34 Continental Divide: Official Clip - A Cougar Problem Continental Divide: Official Clip - A Cougar Problem 2:31 Continental Divide: Official Clip - One Condition -- No Story Continental Divide: Official Clip - One Condition -- No Story 2:39 Continental Divide: Official Clip - Meet Max Birnbaum Continental Divide: Official Clip - Meet Max Birnbaum 2:44 Continental Divide: Official Clip - The Mating Pattern of Eagles Continental Divide: Official Clip - The Mating Pattern of Eagles 3:00 Continental Divide: Official Clip - Marry Me Continental Divide: Official Clip - Marry Me 3:00 Continental Divide: Official Clip - Rolling Down the Mountain Continental Divide: Official Clip - Rolling Down the Mountain 2:48 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Chicago reporter Ernie Souchak (John Belushi) is beaten up by double-dealing police officers after he writes about an unethical city councilman. Hoping to keep Ernie safe, his editor, Howard McDermott (Allen Goorwitz), tells him to head west. In Wyoming, Ernie strikes up a romance with bird scientist Nell Porter (Blair Brown), but as soon as he goes home, he's drawn back into city politics. With Nell about to discuss her research in Chicago, this might be the couple's last chance to reunite.
Director
Michael Apted
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 18, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2015
Runtime
1h 43m
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