Modern Romance

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Modern Romance

R

Released Mar 13, 1981

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

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23 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A film editor (Albert Brooks) breaks up and makes up with his girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold), unsure if he is in love.

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Critics Consensus

Modern Romance contains all the hallmarks of Albert Brooks' best work: darkly funny, confrontational, and chock full of pithy observations about human behavior.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Likely to interest only those who wish Brooks well and don't mind making extravagant allowances.

May 1, 2018

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Extremely funny, ultra-hip and alarmingly insightful.

Jun 24, 2006

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Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

Nearly as much as Jerry Lewis, Albert Brooks's comic persona is defined by its unlikability.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 3, 2006

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Billed as a comedy, Brooks deceptively hides in Modern Romance a scathing indictment of toxic masculinity akin to Agnès Varda’s Le Bonheur and Michelangelo Antonioni’s La Notte.

Rated: 10/10

Mar 25, 2024

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an uneven yet mostly rewarding comedy that stands as one of Brooks' better directorial efforts, ultimately.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 14, 2020

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David Kaplan

Kaplan vs. Kaplan

Rated: 3/5

Mar 1, 2008

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Bucky R

A comedy about emotional abuse probably seemed funnier in 1981.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

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Mason M

A definitely very dark comedy from Albert Brooks, Modern Romance shows Brooks's incredible acting, writing, and directing. He may have better films but the ending may be the hardest that I've laughed during a movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/07/24

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john r

This movie will make you want to punch Albert Brooks in the face.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/23/24

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Audience Member

The great Albert Brooks in a never ending string of delightful romantic comedies. Here he plays film editor Robert Cole. He breaks up with his girlfriend Mary but continuously reconciles with her. There's a limit to how much of his disruptive antics she can take. Can Robert actually figure out what he wants? Being that he's jealous and self-centered they can't seem to be on the same page. This is the kind of modern romance that's all kinds of complicated. I love Albert Brooks but a majority of this was a slog to get through. The couples' romance is barely focused on until the very end. It's not fun watching Robert just moseying around attempting to get things back on track or watch his job. This should've been more engaging.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

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Alec B

This is probably one of the few examinations of a toxic relationship that doesn't involve physical violence of any kind. The film is uncomfortable from start to finish as what at first seems to be a neurotic neediness in the central character slowly becomes an obsessive narcissism. I respect the hell out of Brooks for casting himself as such a unlikable person.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

Full Review

jon c

The great Albert Brooks in a never ending string of delightful romantic comedies. Here he plays film editor Robert Cole. He breaks up with his girlfriend Mary but continuously reconciles with her. There's a limit to how much of his disruptive antics she can take. Can Robert actually figure out what he wants? Being that he's jealous and self-centered they can't seem to be on the same page. This is the kind of modern romance that's all kinds of complicated. I love Albert Brooks but a majority of this was a slog to get through. The couples' romance is barely focused on until the very end. It's not fun watching Robert just moseying around attempting to get things back on track or watch his job. This should've been more engaging.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Albert Brooks

Director

Albert Brooks

Robert Cole

Kathryn Harrold

Mary Harvard

Bruno Kirby

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Synopsis

A film editor (Albert Brooks) breaks up and makes up with his girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold), unsure if he is in love.

Director: Albert Brooks
Producer: Andrew Scheinman, Martin Shafer
Screenwriter: Albert Brooks, Monica McGowan Johnson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 13, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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