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L.A. Story

Play trailer Poster for L.A. Story PG-13 1991 1h 35m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 44 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Harris K. Telemacher (Steve Martin) has the easiest job in the world: he's a TV weatherman in Los Angeles, where the weather is so predictable he tapes his forecasts days in advance. Bored with his job, his life and his relationship with longtime girlfriend Trudi (Marilu Henner), Harris begins to receive secret messages from an electronic freeway sign near his home, which lead him to pursue romance with a British journalist (Victoria Tennant) and a vapid young model (Sarah Jessica Parker).
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L.A. Story

L.A. Story

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Critics Consensus

A romantic comedy that doubles as a love letter to the titular city, L.A. Story is Steve Martin at his silly, sweetly soulful best.

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Critics Reviews

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Harper Barnes St. Louis Post-Dispatch 04/20/2021
This is a wonderful movie. Go to Full Review
Hank Gallo New York Daily News 04/20/2021
2/4
Granted, there are some memorable, big laughs here but the movie that surrounds them is largely forgettable. Go to Full Review
Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel 04/20/2021
If L.A. Story isn't thematically consistent enough to qualify as a classic, it's still consistently entertaining. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 08/04/2023
So much accumulated venom drowns the film. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 11/13/2021
3/4
As one of Martin's original screenplays, it's a clear representation of his loves and his particular comic genius. Go to Full Review
Michael Sragow San Francisco Examiner 04/20/2021
A romantic Hellzapoppin' in a cushy milieu, this movie rivals prime Preston Sturges: "L.A. Story" is Martin's "Palm Beach Story." Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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thiago s @Thiagostone Aug 8 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more R T Jun 15 Its good to see LA story given the highest rating of all steve martins films by critics as its my favourite steve matin film. Eccenentric english woman meets wacky american and both liable to say the unsayable in polite society "nothing some sleep and a good f wouldnt cure".... "I feel ... erect". The chemistry is wonderful in this film and perhaps understandable as they were married at the time. Of all the rom coms i've watched and would never watch again in a million years because they're so cringey (hugh grant films in particular), this is different because it feels as though there's genuine warmth in the relationship. My favourite quote of the film is "we never know when love starts but we always know when it ends". So poignant and so true! See more 11/02/2024 A sweet magical film from Martins heart. Sometimes over the top, but a perfect rendition of the early 90s with a hint of Fellini and sparkles of magical realism. It is a wonderful film of you have the palette for this type of experience. See more Munkhchimeg T 07/20/2024 Highly recommended who loves rom-com See more Steve D 02/23/2023 I just didn't see the humor in it. See more Taylor L 02/19/2023 Maybe it's because I have never been to L.A., but I just don't connect with L.A. Story. It's a strange blend of an ode to and satire of a city, slapstick comedy, and fantasy romance. Los Angeles is full of superficiality and smugness, degrading but full of possibilities, but all of the criticisms are counteracted when you realize that the film is basically Steve Martin (already a very successful comedian and actor) making a movie in L.A. with his many famous friends in cameo roles, barely poking fun at themselves. As a romantic comedy Martin (as both writer and lead actor) does some great individual gags that feel on par with the ZAZ-style absurdism that was in vogue at the time, but if you're not familiar with L.A. it's almost as if you're only told half of the story. However, the improvisational tone and some of the jokes still make the film worth a watch even if the relationship side of this rom-com mostly fizzles out. (2.5/5) See more Read all reviews
L.A. Story

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Movie Info

Synopsis Harris K. Telemacher (Steve Martin) has the easiest job in the world: he's a TV weatherman in Los Angeles, where the weather is so predictable he tapes his forecasts days in advance. Bored with his job, his life and his relationship with longtime girlfriend Trudi (Marilu Henner), Harris begins to receive secret messages from an electronic freeway sign near his home, which lead him to pursue romance with a British journalist (Victoria Tennant) and a vapid young model (Sarah Jessica Parker).
Director
Mick Jackson
Producer
Daniel Melnick, Michael I. Rachmil
Screenwriter
Steve Martin
Distributor
TriStar Pictures
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 8, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.8M
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Surround
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