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Once Around

Play trailer Poster for Once Around R 1991 1h 54m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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70% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Renata Bella (Holly Hunter) has no career prospects, her fiancé just broke up with her and she still lives with her parents although she is in her 30s. Desperate for direction in life, she attends a seminar on real estate sales. There she meets the brash, successful and arrogant salesman Sam Sharpe (Richard Dreyfuss). The two marry, but the brash quality that attracted her to Sam is off-putting her family, particularly with her strong-willed father, Joe (Danny Aiello).
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Once Around

Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 02/06/2018
This is both recommendation and warning: Once Around is easy to take but hard to swallow. Go to Full Review
Trevor Johnston Time Out 01/26/2006
This rather overbearing romantic comedy is by no means a disaster. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers Rolling Stone 05/12/2001
2.5/4
Ethnic romances from Abie's Irish Rose to Moonstruck have traveled similar ground, but few have handled the role of family in a marriage more poignantly than Once Around. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 01/04/2023
Those who don't have patience for Once Around... will find it irritating, even hateful. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Felix Vasquez Jr. Film Threat 07/13/2007
2/5
Dreyfuss and Hunter can't save what is a sappy and grating melodrama. Go to Full Review
Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com 07/05/2007
8/10
A wonderfully charming, true-to-life comedy-drama that was one of 1991's best and most overlooked films. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Gene S 07/07/2024 Richard Dreyfuss plays an annoying and self absorbed asshole; Holly Hunter is the only human on the planet who can't see he's an asshole. Suddenly he dies and everyone inexplicably decides he wasn't an asshole after all. I hated this film viscerally and wanted to just slap Dreyfuss' smug smile right off his face. See more Tony Z 07/21/2023 This is a nice little movie with many charming, and also strange, moments. It made me feel a bit lighter. The rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon" from Danny Aiello is wonderful. See more Steve D 02/24/2023 The cast is good but the story isn't. See more jon c 01/18/2021 Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Gena Rowlands, and the late Danny Aiello. After her sisters wedding Hunter as Renata feels like a third wheel. Her career isn't going anywhere. Her fiancé leaves her. She's also still living with her folks being in her 30s. Renata wants to go in a new direction so after attending a real estate seminar in the Bahamas she meets an older fellow Dreyfuss as Sam. She unexpectedly falls in love with him. Of course given the fact he's much older and acting unusual around her family has them on edge. Renatas father overall dislikes his approach towards life. Even her sister is suspicious of him. Over time though Sam and Renata grow do much closer. But she begins to worry that Sam isn't being sensitive to her fathers feelings. Everyone is worried he might be tearing them apart. Sam though is living and working to the best of his degree. Always makes a laugh bringing out the best in Renata. No one can tear family apart. We all have to have our own adventures. Sometimes once around the circle of life is all we need. Dreyfuss is so full of energy and Hunter gives such a committed performance. Aiello sells it as the father of this big family. The role of family in a marriage is a big thing. Renata and Sam learn its small beginnings to its giant ends. Part romance, part drama this works. See more 01/03/2016 Holly Hunter plays Renata, an Italian 30-something who belongs to a close-knit family headed by Joe Bella (Danny Aiello). After taking a real-estate seminar in the Carribean, Renata falls for Sam Sharp (Richard Dreyfuss), an obnoxious salesman who immediately disrupts the Bella's organized and peaceful life. His abrasive behavior cause tensions between Renata and her family. This under-rated gem of a film succeeds because of it's true-to-life observations, a terrific cast and a zany script brimming with great lines. Richard Dreyfuss gives one of, if not his best performances here, pulling out all the stops. Holly Hunter is utterly believable as a distraught woman looking for happiness. Danny Aiello is just right as the family patriarch trying to hold the family together. Also look for fine work from Gena Rowlands, Laura San Giacomo. I've seen this film at least 20 times and I always go back to it! See more ken k 03/14/2014 Any critic that pans this should never write another review! Hands down the most romantic and sensitive Rom-com ever put to film! Ken K. See more Read all reviews
Once Around

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Movie Info

Synopsis Renata Bella (Holly Hunter) has no career prospects, her fiancé just broke up with her and she still lives with her parents although she is in her 30s. Desperate for direction in life, she attends a seminar on real estate sales. There she meets the brash, successful and arrogant salesman Sam Sharpe (Richard Dreyfuss). The two marry, but the brash quality that attracted her to Sam is off-putting her family, particularly with her strong-willed father, Joe (Danny Aiello).
Director
Lasse Hallström
Producer
Griffin Dunne, Amy Robinson
Screenwriter
Malia Scotch Marmo
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Cinecom Entertainment Group
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 18, 1991, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Dec 28, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.3M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround
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