THREE MEN AND A BABY
US, 1987, 103 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson, Nancy Travis, Margaret Colin, Philip Bosco, Derek de Lint.
Directed by Leonard Nimoy.
Three Men and a Baby is a remake of a very successful French film, Three Men and a Cradle, written and directed by Coline Serreau. She acted as a production adviser for this American version.
The plot is simple, three swinging bachelors find a baby at the doorstep, have to care for her and fall in love with her. The three men are popular film and television personalities of the mid-'80s: Tom Selleck from Magnum P.I. (though less successful in films like High Road to China, Lasseter, Runaway), Steve Gutenberg, a serious actor but probably best known at the box office for the Police Academy series, and Ted Danson from Cheers (as well as films like A Fine Mess and the telemovie Something About Amelia). The three work together quite well. Generally there is a sense of comic timing - but there are some flat spots. Direction is by Leonard Nimoy, best known as Mr Spock in the Star Trek series (the later films of which he also directed).
The film is slight and unsubtle, has some humour and warmth - but appealed mightily to the audiences on 1987-88 to make it an extraordinary box-office success.
1. An entertaining comedy? The human touch? Audiences identifying with the three men and their situation? The love of the baby? The explanation for box-office success?
2. The contemporary city, apartments (and Michael's decoration and muraW Building sites - and Peter's work? The drug-smuggling and dealing background? The contemporary American city? Opening song - Naughty Boys'? Musical score and songs?
3. The title summing everything up - and giving the focus?
4. The establishment of the lifestyle of the three men? Peter and his girlfriend, birthday party, his work as an architect, his skills? Michael and his artwork, his drawing the cartoons and his skill, girlfriends - and yet ending up counselling them? Jack and his swinging style, his leering attitudes towards women? Their sharing the apartment? Helping one another? Jack and his TV commercials? Going on location in Turkey for the film? The setting up of the mysterious packet at the door?
5. The arrival of the baby? Peter's reaction? Michael's? The note and the explanation? Audiences wondering what was to happen?
6. The humour and pathos of the two men trying to look after the baby? The rushing down to the shops (and the advice of the woman to Peter in the shop?), Michael looking after Mary? Humour - feeding, natural functions etc.? The three men trying to tie nappies and change the baby etc? Trying to enlist support? Peter's girlfriend and her refusal? The Austrian visitor and his comment about babies, the growing affection for the baby? Their staying up, playing with her, buying toys etc?
7. The complications with the drug package and Michel's not noticing it? The courier's arriving and the misunderstanding about the baby? The police following? Peter getting the baby back? The Inspector and his attraction towards the baby? Hiding the drugs in the nappy? The complications with the drug dealers, the threats and the disarray in the apartment? The police following? The phone call to Jack -and its ambiguities?
8. Jack's arrival back, their confronting him with the situation, leaving him with the baby? Their own outings - to the theatre, the phone calls, Jack in the shower with the baby and not hearing, their rushing home? The blend of pathos and humour? The girlfriends and their amazement?
9. The decision to set up the drug dealers? The appointment, the car and the taxi, Michael videoing the exchange? The dealers giving themselves away? The arrival of the police? The happy ending of this affair?
10. Sylvia's arrival, her wanting the baby back, going to the airport, their realisation of the truth, hurrying to the airport - and the humour of the taxi ride? Missing the plane? Returning - finding Sylvia, Mary and their decision about the future? Audiences enjoying comedy - and especially the feelings towards babies?
