Something’s Gotta Give is one of those rom-coms that fits neatly into the early 2000s mold: playful, a little outrageous, and ultimately sweet. Watching it now, decades later, it does feel a bit dated in some of its humor, but there’s still charm in the setup.
The premise is certainly edgy—Harry, a wealthy older man, is dating Marin, but ends up falling for her mother Erica. It’s the kind of “ridiculous but possible” storyline that rom-coms of the 90s and early 2000s loved to push. Today, it might feel a little less acceptable, but at the time, it leaned into the awkwardness for laughs.
The real heart of the movie is meant to be the chemistry between Harry and Erica. Unfortunately, while it isn’t bad, it never quite sparks the way it should in a rom-com. Nicholson’s appeal as the charming older man works on paper, but with Erica, the connection feels more situational than electric. Diane Keaton, for her part, delivers a committed and emotional performance—though I’ll admit, the sheer number of crying scenes was a bit much. A few landed beautifully, but after a while, it became overkill.
That said, the film has its strengths. The banter between Nicholson and Keaton has its fun moments, and Keanu Reeves as the younger doctor adds an interesting wrinkle to the love triangle dynamic. The pacing holds up well, and Nancy Meyers’ direction ensures the film always looks polished and inviting.
At the end of the day, Something’s Gotta Give is a cute rom-com with moments of humor and charm, even if it doesn’t quite deliver the irresistible spark you want from the genre. It’s worth a watch if you’re a fan of Meyers’ style, but it probably won’t leave you swooning.
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