CHARLES SHYER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB. 

USA, 1995.  Sandollar Productions, Taylor-Made Productions, The Meyers/Shyer Company, Touchstone Pictures.  Screenplay by Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, based on the screenplay Father’s Little Dividend by Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich.  Cinematography by Elliot Davis, William A. Fraker.  Produced by Nancy Meyers.  Music by Alan Silvestri.  Production Design by Linda DeScenna.  Costume Design by Enid Harris.  Film Editing by Adam Bernardi, Stephen A. Rotter.  

Superior sequel to the 1991 original now has the newly married Kimberly Williams, daughter of befuddled dad Steve Martin, announce that she and her husband have a bun in the oven. What throws the family for a loop, though, is that mom Diane Keaton announces that she’s got a special delivery of her own coming along. Energy is higher than in the last chapter, and the script is written with better humour and more palatable sentimentality, creating its moving moments honestly without depending on stereotypical cliches of family dramas to get its audience involved. On the other hand, it’s still a Hollywood studio movie about rich white people. Keaton is as lovely as ever, and Martin as the baffled dad is at his funniest, plus there’s a perfectly lovely performance by Jane Adams as the overworked doctor who takes care of the babies’ deliveries when they happen (at the same time!)

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Actor-Musical/Comedy (Steve Martin)