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The End

Play trailer Poster for The End R Released May 10, 1978 1h 40m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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56% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
After discovering that he has only months to live, Wendell Lawson (Burt Reynolds) tries to settle issues with his family, including his ex-wife (Sally Field). When he gets little empathy or even attention from his relatives, he becomes distraught and sets out to kill himself. Following many unsuccessful suicide attempts, Lawson winds up in a mental hospital, where he meets deranged fellow patient Marlon Borunki (Dom DeLuise), who is quite eager to help his new friend end his life.
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The End

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety A tasteless and overripe comedy that disintegrates very early into hysterical, undisciplined hamming. Feb 23, 2012 Full Review Time Out An engaging attempt to take the piss out of the crocodile tears that have been gleefully exploited since Love Story. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times This is half-heartedly satiric material that's been directed by Mr. Reynolds as if it were broad, knock-about comedy sometimes and, at other times, as if it were meant to evoke pathos, which it never does. May 9, 2005 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) The End, in flagrant negation of its title, does not end. It ends up nowhere. [Full review in Spanish] Jan 18, 2024 Full Review Bernard Drew Gannett News Service So what's wrong? Practically everything. For all of its good intentions, The End is a tone poem in misgauged effects. It simply doesn't work. Nov 1, 2019 Full Review Fernando Trueba El Pais (Spain) An acceptable commercial product that's entertaining despite its notable lack of structure. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 2, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The late Burt Reynolds is Wendell Lawson co-starring next to Sally Fields, the late Norman Fell, and the late Dom Deluise He has a rare blood disease with no hope for a cure So he decides to make the pain easier by trying to kill himself Yet he goes through many unsuccessful attempts Everyone in his life from his attorney to his ex-wife to his current girlfriend are worried about his mental state Wendell ends up in a mental hospital and befriends Marlon Not too many laugh out loud moments and some of the satirical elements should've been written better Real lack of structure plot wise but Reynolds is watchable next to Deluise Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Burt Reynolds was one of the great action and dramatic stars of the 20th Century. He was also hysterically funny. This movie about a very serious topic-a man dying and coming to terms with the Knowledge-is very funny. Dom Deluise is hysterical and a great partner for Reynolds. Sally Field plus the straight role with Grace. The supporting cast is very good-Norman Fell as the Dr and Robby Benson as the young priest. The comedic direction is masterful in the underrated, now classic comedy. This holds up well. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review uncle p Summary: (2.5/5) The cast was middling, the story was weak, and the film felt too long. A thumbs down. Story/Screenplay: (2.5/5) Yawn. The humor in this comedy just didn't age well. Had potential, but it wasn't really funny. Duration/Tempo: (3/5) At 1 hour and 40 minutes, it's a shorter than average movie that felt about average in length. With little comedy in this comedy, there just wasn't enough content to drive the film. Cast & Crew: (3/5) If there were any laughs to be found, Dom DeLuise provided them. Burt Reynolds and Sally Field were good, but their performances suffered from a mediocre screenplay. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member While not the funniest film ever made, it is redeemed by the antics of Dom de Luise and the acting of the great Myrna Loy, in a small role, when she was almost 80. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie and funny as hell. Netflix should carry this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The End

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Movie Clips

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The End

The End: Official Clip - A Date With A .38 The End: Official Clip - A Date With A .38 2:35 The End: Official Clip - The Coward's Way Out The End: Official Clip - The Coward's Way Out 1:13 The End: Official Clip - Death Therapy The End: Official Clip - Death Therapy 2:01 The End: Official Clip - Straitjacket Surprise The End: Official Clip - Straitjacket Surprise 2:02 The End: Official Clip - Meeting Marlon The End: Official Clip - Meeting Marlon 2:38 The End: Official Clip - Elevator Tears The End: Official Clip - Elevator Tears 1:16 The End: Official Clip - It Ain't High Enough! The End: Official Clip - It Ain't High Enough! 3:06 The End: Official Clip - Shooting Sonny The End: Official Clip - Shooting Sonny 2:47 The End: Official Clip - A Game of Chicken The End: Official Clip - A Game of Chicken 1:49 The End: Official Clip - Marlon's Last Straw The End: Official Clip - Marlon's Last Straw 4:15 View more videos

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The End

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Movie Info

Synopsis After discovering that he has only months to live, Wendell Lawson (Burt Reynolds) tries to settle issues with his family, including his ex-wife (Sally Field). When he gets little empathy or even attention from his relatives, he becomes distraught and sets out to kill himself. Following many unsuccessful suicide attempts, Lawson winds up in a mental hospital, where he meets deranged fellow patient Marlon Borunki (Dom DeLuise), who is quite eager to help his new friend end his life.
Director
Burt Reynolds
Producer
Lawrence Gordon
Screenwriter
Jerry Belson
Production Co
Gordon-Reynolds Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 10, 1978, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 29, 2017
Runtime
1h 40m
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