That's Life!

PG-13

Released Oct 10, 1986

1h 41m

Comedy

Drama

List

53%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A well-to-do architect, Harvey Fairchild (Jack Lemmon) should be happy, but he's depressed and dreading his impending 60th birthday party. Meanwhile, his supportive wife, Gillian (Julie Andrews), endures a crisis of her own as she waits to hear back on tests for throat cancer, a condition that would threaten both her health and her singing career. As Harvey's birthday weekend progresses, the couple contends with these and other issues, and their problems threaten to eclipse the celebration.

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Ian C

From the moment Jack Lemmons character starts talking,he is very irritating,self absorbed and boring..and continues to be to the bitter end..I was actually really hoping his doctor would find something seriously wrong with him,to shorten this film.I'm usually a fan of Lemmon,but this was a total Lemon.Probably his worst film and most irritating,unsympathetic character,with all the over the top acting mannerisms,which need turning down.Do not watch more than 15 mins of this tripe,switch it off,and put on The China Syndrome,or Missing or even Save the Tiger to reinstall yer faith in Jack Lemmon...🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

Audience Member

The argument deals with life, and we all can relate to the overall life and existential problems depicted in this movie. Well, that's pretty much it. The acting is good at times, not convincing at others. Julie Andrews is not always the most convincing as a tormented woman or a selfless mother and wife. Overall, not much in this movie is convincing or very well developed. We end up the movie by knowing little about most characters, but they are overall not particularly interesting. We have a glimpse of their problems but we truly don't know much of the specifics. but again when dealing with universal feelings about life and death, perhaps " enough is said" even when not much is said.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

steve d

I found the characters surprisingly unlikable and the same with the film

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Father of the house approaches his 60th birthday and freaks out because of his age, illnesses he imagines to have, etc., and infects everybody with his mostly groundless extroverted sickness phobias, while his wife silently suffers from suspected cancer. In a humorous and light fashion the film studies the way people deal with their concerns. Nothing particularly good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

All of the emotional moments between Lemmon and Andrews work because of the affection we feel toward the actors, not because of the script or anything about the characters per se. The rest of the film is fairly dull and at times annoying.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Julie Andrews on aina kiva.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

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Blake Edwards

Director

Jack Lemmon

Harvey Fairchild

Julie Andrews

Gillian Fairchild

Sally Kellerman

Holly Parrish

Robert Loggia

Father Baragone

Jennifer Edwards

Megan Fairchild Bartlet

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

That's Life has many moments of truth and some good performances. But it's not all of a piece; not every scene seems to have been thought through on the same level. Tone is everything in a film like this.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a meandering, hit-and-miss endeavor that benefits substantially from its predictably stellar performances...

Rated: 3/4

Feb 20, 2021

Full Review

Ángel Fernández-Santos

El Pais (Spain)

The short script lacks originality, but the abilities of the director and actor allow it to stay afloat. [Full Review in Spanish]

Jun 25, 2020

Full Review

Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Rated: 3/5

Apr 6, 2007

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Aug 4, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 16, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

A well-to-do architect, Harvey Fairchild (Jack Lemmon) should be happy, but he's depressed and dreading his impending 60th birthday party. Meanwhile, his supportive wife, Gillian (Julie Andrews), endures a crisis of her own as she waits to hear back on tests for throat cancer, a condition that would threaten both her health and her singing career. As Harvey's birthday weekend progresses, the couple contends with these and other issues, and their problems threaten to eclipse the celebration.

Director: Blake Edwards
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Ubilam Productions, Blake Edwards, Paradise Cove Productions, Delphi V Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.6M
Runtime: 1h 41m

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