Continental Divide

PG

Released Oct 18, 1981

1h 43m

Comedy

Drama

List

73%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

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

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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

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Michael Apted

Director

John Belushi

Ernie Souchak

Blair Brown

Nell Porter

Allen Garfield

Howard McDermott

Carlin Glynn

Sylvia

Tony Ganios

Max Bernbaum

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Continental Divide: Official Clip - The Oldest Church in America

2:55

Continental Divide: Official Clip - A Secret Rendezvous

2:40

Continental Divide: Official Clip - Eagle Poachers

2:34

Continental Divide: Official Clip - A Cougar Problem

2:31

Continental Divide: Official Clip - One Condition -- No Story

2:39

Continental Divide: Official Clip - Meet Max Birnbaum

2:44

Continental Divide: Official Clip - The Mating Pattern of Eagles

3:00

Continental Divide: Official Clip - Marry Me

3:00

Continental Divide: Official Clip - Rolling Down the Mountain

2:48

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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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