ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 21, 1996 TAG: 9612230143
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: C12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
"One Fine Day" is an inconsistent romantic comedy with attractive (though not completely believable) adult characters and irritating children. Because the kids play such a large part in the story, that's a considerable problem.
Jack (George Clooney) is a New York newspaper columnist who's not ready for an extended visit by his 6-year-old daughter, Maggie (Mae Whitman), but his ex-wife is leaving on her honeymoon and her baby-sitting arrangements have collapsed. Something similar has happened to her neighbor Melanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her son, Sammy (Alex D. Linz).
The kids go to the same Montessori school, but Jack's irresponsible ways cause Maggie and Sammy to miss a field trip. It would happen on the day that Melanie has a big presentation to make at her architectural firm, and if Jack can't find another source to back up an expose he's written about the mayor, he'll be fired.
The formula for the script by Terrel Seltzer and Ellen Simon demands that the two take an immediate dislike to each other, and then spend the rest of the film falling in love. It's accomplished through Jack and Melanie's complicated swapping of child-care duties, and getting their identical cell phones confused.
Director Michael Hoffman (``Soapdish'') makes full use of his New York locations, and he got first-rate light performances from his leads though Clooney overuses that funny little ducking nod of his head that's become so familiar to viewers of the TV series "E.R." Michelle Pfeiffer really has the more fully dimensional and demanding role, and she handles it without visible effort.
Unfortunately, the script calls for one or both of the kids to commit some act of juvenile sabotage about every 10 minutes. It's realistic behavior, but it makes the youngsters seem like little monsters. Some of the sexy banter between the grown-ups is also a problem. A little of the I-love-you-I-hate-you-I-love-you repartee is acceptable between people who have just met, but here it's almost continuous. Couples don't do that unless they've been together for a long time.
Similar material is handled much more enjoyably in "Jerry Maguire," but "One Fine Day" still deserves a qualified recommendation as featherweight entertainment.
One Fine Day **
A 20th Century Fox release playing at the Salem Valley 8, Tanglewood Mall. 105 minutes. Rated PG for subject matter, a little rough language.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney play harriedby CNBsingle parents who fall in love in ``One Fine Day.'' color