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Stanley & Iris

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Stanley & Iris

PG-13

1990

1h 44m

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Iris (Jane Fonda) has a rough go of it after the death of her husband. Though still grieving, she needs to support her dysfunctional family and so she lands a job at a bakery. Things start to look up when the kindhearted Stanley (Robert De Niro), a cook in the bakery, comes to her aid after she is mugged. When Iris realizes that Stanley cannot read, she makes it her goal to teach him. As Stanley approaches literacy, their friendship grows into something words cannot express.

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Variety Staff

Variety

The elements are in place but they don't add up to great drama in this well-meant effort to personalize the plight of illiterate people.

Jan 11, 2008

Full Review

Stephen Garrett

Time Out

The ending, despite good intentions, is American cinema at its tackiest and most hollow.

Jun 24, 2006

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

Although the construction is somewhat haphazard, the intention is well meaning and DeNiro gives a characteristically sensitive rendering.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 6, 2005

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The second half is sloppy.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A calculated fabrication that tries to sell an impossible ensemble. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 12, 2022

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

It's the very definition of a "nice" film, never offending, never offering emotional fireworks, but hitting its notes with Ritt's soft-spoken grace.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 4, 2019

Full Review

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Rosemarie K

I recently watched through Prime. Actually enjoyed it on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I had never heard of it before. Nothing earth shattering, just a sweet movie about two people who help each other out and slowly find romance. It made me smile and feel good about the world.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

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Michael F

A charming film with excellent performances from Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro. It's a simple story about working class people but it hits all the right chords.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

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steve d

The cast has no chemistry and the story isn't great.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I didn't watch much of this mainly because I don't like Jane Fonda or Robert Dinero that much. Cute concept for a movie but it didn't really work for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Heartwarming film that gives hope that anything is possible. A nice and honest story of struggle, loss, and finding love again. I love Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro as actors and I was not disappointed. Its a film of its time with lovely sentiments. It is definitely under rated for what it is.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie fucking sucks for a lot of reasons, 1 i dont care about any of the characters since none of them are likable 2 you can tell the director run out of ideas while filming this movie because sometimes it just shows a random scene with Iris walking in a forest 3 the dialog is bad 4 Its just fucking boring. Just dont watch this boring movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Martin Ritt

Director

Jane Fonda

Iris Estelle King

Robert De Niro

Stanley Everett Cox

Swoosie Kurtz

Sharon

Martha Plimpton

Kelly King

Harley Cross

Richard King

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - He Can't Read and He Can't Write

1:47

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Financial Troubles

2:06

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Iris Meets Stanley

3:22

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - You're Pregnant?

1:20

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Motherly Advice

2:09

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - It's My Library

1:28

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Stanley Offers to Iron

2:11

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Stanley Notices Iris' Sweaters

2:02

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Iris Interviews Stanley

2:09

Stanley & Iris: Official Clip - Stanley Proposes

2:13

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Synopsis

Iris (Jane Fonda) has a rough go of it after the death of her husband. Though still grieving, she needs to support her dysfunctional family and so she lands a job at a bakery. Things start to look up when the kindhearted Stanley (Robert De Niro), a cook in the bakery, comes to her aid after she is mugged. When Iris realizes that Stanley cannot read, she makes it her goal to teach him. As Stanley approaches literacy, their friendship grows into something words cannot express.

Director: Martin Ritt
Producer: Arlene Sellers, Alex Winitsky
Screenwriter: Harriet Frank Jr., Irving Ravetch
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Star Partners II Ltd., Lantana
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround

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