Harold and Maude (1971)
Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles; d. Hal Ashby; B

Harold Chasen (Bud Cort) is a 20 year old man from an affluent family. He lives with his mother (Vivian Pickles) in a lavish semi-mansion that has a decidedly old-world feel. Harold, though, prefers the old world of another kind. He's obsessed with death: He frequently attends funerals, fakes his own suicide (often in front of his mother and other people), and drives a hearse. At one of these funerals he meets a 79-year-old woman named Maude (Ruth Gordon), a free-spirited woman who loves to do what her heart pleases. She steals cars because she wants to get the experience of driving different cars. Her house is full of assorted art projects that she's done only because she was interested in them. And since she deviates from the norm, Harold becomes interested in her. They begin hanging out together, giving Harold something to do other than hanging out in funderals. His mother has some ideas for him, too, as she enlists the boy into an international dating service, the form of which she fills out herself with her own preferences. Only three girls come up as a perfect match, none of whom Harold is interested in and all of whom Harold chases away with his gruesom psuedo-sucidies. No matter how much he tries, though, he knows his mother is going to keep finding a girl for him to settle down with. So he announces that he is settling down, but not with anyone who his mother expected it to be.

Harold and Maude a charming, uplifting dark comedy that tells us that it's better to love life than love death, with out being overly saccarine. It's an off-beat comedy with an excellent script, great direction, great performances, and a great score by Cat Stevens. Ruth Gordon gives the best performance in the film as the energetic Maude, just as unforgettable a character as Bud Cort's Harold. He's able to play the nearly psychotic Harold without overstating it. Also great is Vivian Pickles as Harold's mom. The movie is affective on all levels, and I highly reccomend it. Don't let the fact that it's on cult status with many make you afraid to see the film, it's simply wonderful!

© Vert A Go Go Reviews 2001