Just How Bad Was John Travolta's "Moment By Moment."

[Markxxx]

I never saw this movie. I knew it wasn't a hit, but coming after two major hits Saturday Night Fever and Grease, one has to wonder if it was really that awful or just a let down from his previous two hits. I am not sure if it was released after or before Grease was, but either way I've never seen it.

[sco3tt]

Not an answer, but just an observation: I have a distinct recollection of seeing the trailer for this film as a kid and thinking "Seriously? A love story between Vinnie Barbarino and Ernestine? Are they going to reveal that she's really his grandmother or something?"

Even at that prepubescent age I knew this film would not cause long lines to form at the ticket window. Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon had already satisfied any curiosity the movie-going public might have had about this dynamic.

[Little Nemo]

I saw this movie back around 1980 on HBO. My recollection is that, yes, it really was that bad.

[TWDuke]

Never saw it, but it seems to be on Hulu. You have to register to see it though.

Tomlin was 15 years older than Travolta. Cougar territory perhaps, but not grandmotherly.

[Rilchiam]

I read a very detailed review of it. Even allowing that YMMV, it doesn't sound like it could even be interesting, much less entertaining.

As for the grandmother aspect, I think the obstacles are that a) I never bought Travolta as a sex object, and in this film, his character seems to present as box-of-hair dumb, and b) Tomlin's character seems to present as both physically unattractive and with a stunted personality. There doesn't seem to be any valid reason why either of them would be attracted to the other: she's not a MILF, but he's not the (male) Heartbreak Kid either.

[dangermom]

Originally Posted by Rilchiam

I read a very detailed review of it. Even allowing that YMMV, it doesn't sound like it could even be interesting, much less entertaining.

I enjoyed the review, but it was painfully long. Sounds like an awful movie. John Travolta (ew) and Lily Tomlin together? I need to bleach my brain now...

[Frostillicus]

Originally Posted by TWDuke

Tomlin was 15 years older than Travolta. Cougar territory perhaps, but not grandmotherly.

Under no possible scenario could Lily Tomlin ever be considered a cougar.

[kunilou]

The fact that they both had the same hairstyle (shag/mullet) didn't help either.

[Rachael Rage]

As an 8-year old I had no interest in a schlocky romance, so I managed to dodge that bullet when it came out in theaters. However in its "defense" (sort of, maybe) I always heard/surmised that this project had some personal meaning for Travolta with regard to his relationship with the fifteen-years-older Diana Hyland. I would have hoped he could have held out for a better script, though.

This is entirely speculation on my part, but after reading the above-linked synopsis, maybe Jane Wagner's script started out as a lesbian allegory? You know, a woman awakens to her sexuality in middle age, ending her marriage and hooking up with a "socially-unacceptable" super-pretty partner. Although gay-themed films weren't unheard of in the 70s, perhaps Wagner felt (or was told) that she'd never get Hollywood money or big stars if it weren't made from a hetero point of view. If that's the case, of course, that doesn't excuse it from being terrible.

[Stoid]

I saw it when it came out and I liked it. I didn't think it was good, but I was entertained.

[TWDuke]

Originally Posted by Frostillicus

Under no possible scenario could Lily Tomlin ever be considered a cougar.

She's an older woman wanting casual sex with a younger man. ("Cougar" does not mean "MILF," or anything "ILF.")

Originally Posted by Rilchiam

a) I never bought Travolta as a sex object, and in this film, his character seems to present as box-of-hair dumb, and b) Tomlin's character seems to present as both physically unattractive and with a stunted personality.

Originally Posted by dangermom

John Travolta (ew) and Lily Tomlin together? I need to bleach my brain now...

It may be a case of you had to be there, but Travolta was considered quite a sex object back in the day. (So was Henry Winkler - it was a strange time - but Travolta was also considered a top box-office draw with two hit movies and an Oscar nom to his name.) In fact, as bad as the movie seems to have been it wouldn't be remembered as one of the worst movies of all time if it hadn't starred someone as popular as Travolta. It would have sunk without a trace like other '70s low-budget indie relationship movies, many of which also feature odd pairings, stilted dialogue, flat performances, and glacial pacing.

[Rilchiam]

I was around back in the day, and I thought he was freaky-looking even then. Just saying.

[Little Nemo]

This is entirely speculation on my part, but after reading the above-linked synopsis, maybe Jane Wagner's script started out as a lesbian allegory? You know, a woman awakens to her sexuality in middle age, ending her marriage and hooking up with a "socially-unacceptable" super-pretty partner. Although gay-themed films weren't unheard of in the 70s, perhaps Wagner felt (or was told) that she'd never get Hollywood money or big stars if it weren't made from a hetero point of view. If that's the case, of course, that doesn't excuse it from being terrible.

Complete speculation on my part, but I'd guess that the reasoning was simpler. Wagner and Tomlin were probably trying to increase Tomlin's commercial range and figured a romance picture with a major star would be a solid hit. At a superficial level, it was a good idea - most actresses find success in movies like this and Tomlin's first feature role had been in Nashville, where she played a semi-dramatic character. So a romantic lead role probably seemed like a good direction to go.

But this is Lily Tomlin. Her strength is in comedy not drama. To their credit, Wagner and Tomlin recognized this after Moment by Moment and Tomlin's next movies were Nine to Five, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, and All of Me.