Surrender (1987) Warner Bros./Comedy RT: 94 minutes Rated PG (language, implied nudity) Director: Jerry Belson Screenplay: Jerry Belson Music: Michael Colombier Cinematography: Juan Ruiz Anchia Release date: October 9, 1987 (US) Cast: Sally Field, Michael Caine, Steve Guttenberg, Peter Boyle, Jackie Cooper, Julie Kavner, Iman, Louise Lasser, Michael A. Andrews, Jerry Lazarus. Box Office: $5.7M (US)
Rating: **
I saw the rom-com Surrender when it came out on video in early ’88. I didn’t remember a thing about it when I watched it a second time this past weekend on Tubi. It turns out there’s really nothing worth remembering about it. It’s as mediocre as they come.
Sally Field shines in Surrender, a so-so rom-com that tries in vain to replicate the success of Murphy’s Romance, a better film pairing Field with an older co-star James Garner. In this one, she co-stars with Michael Caine (Alfie) who probably made this movie for the same reason he did Jaws: The Revenge. I wonder what he spent this paycheck on. The love triangle is completed by Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy 1-4) as a whiny, selfish a**hole with an aversion to commitment.
Caine plays Sean Stein, a successful novelist who’s not so lucky in love. He got taken to the cleaners by both his ex-wife (Lasser, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) and ex-girlfriend (Iman, No Way Out). He’s all ready to pack it in and move to Kuwait when he has a meet-cute that changes his life. He’s at a fundraiser that gets crashed by armed robbers who force the guests to completely disrobe before they tie everybody up. He’s tied to Daisy Morgan (Field), a wannabe artist in attendance with her wealthy corporate lawyer boyfriend Marty (Guttenberg). Being naked and in such close proximity, some people tend to become aroused or at least intrigued.
Sean wants to get to know Daisy better, but he doesn’t want to put himself in the same position as before. He wants a woman who will love him for who he is, not how much money he has. He shows up at her house and asks her out under the pretense he’s broke and about to be homeless. For her part, Daisy wants out of her relationship with Marty. Simply put, he’s a jerk. He’s the kind of guy who snaps his fingers at Daisy when he wants something. Right now, he’s out of the country on business so Daisy accepts Sean’s invitation to dinner. She sees no reason to tell him about Marty.
It’s obvious they’re both attracted to each other. It isn’t long before they get something going. They move in together and things seem to be going well. However, Sean is going to have to come clean with Daisy sooner or later about his financial status. How will that go over? She too will have to come clean with Sean about Marty. How will that go over? No one ever said the path to true love was easy, especially in rom-coms. It’s always complicated.
Surrender is written and directed by Jerry Belson (1938-2006). It’s one of two theatrical films he directed, the other one being the spoof Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again (1982). He also wrote the screenplays for Smile (1975), Fun with Dick and Jane (1977), The End (1978) and Smokey and the Bandit II (1980). Jerry is better known for his work on television. He wrote multiple episodes of The Odd Couple, Love, American Style and The Tracey Ullman Show. I wasn’t surprised to learn his roots were in TV. Surrender has a very sitcom-ish feel to it. Not only that, Aaron Spelling is one of the producers. He’s the guy behind many popular TV series including Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Dynasty and Beverly Hills 90210. What we have here is a film that isn’t cinematic at all. It’s not even worth the price of adult admission in ’87 which was about $4.50 as I recall.
Would it surprise you to learn Surrender is a Golan-Globus production? Well then, SURPRISE! Although distributed by Warner, it’s a Cannon production. It’s from when they were trying to break away from B-movies. I didn’t really work out for them as the Golan-Globus empire collapsed a couple of years later with expensive flops like Masters of the Universe and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, both 1987. Surrender somehow cost $15M to make and only made back $5.7M.
Field is the lone saving grace of Surrender. She’s always good. It’s nice to see her take a break from heavier fare like Norma Rae (1979), Absence of Malice (1981) and Places in the Heart (1984) to star in a light rom-com. I like her, I really like her. Caine doesn’t exactly phone it in, but he doesn’t put forth a lot of effort either. Their chemistry is okay, but I liked her better with Garner.
Surrender came out the same year as Guttenberg’s last Police Academy movie. I usually like him; he has a likable quality to him. I couldn’t stand him in this movie. His character is one of those people you’d like to smack repeatedly on general principle. I cringed every time he showed his face.
The supporting cast includes Peter Boyle (Young Frankenstein) as Sean’s lawyer and closest friend. He’s the voice of reason character, I suppose. He’s the one that suggests a pre-nup when Sean announces his intention to marry Daisy. Yeah, that turns into a situation. Julie Kavner (Rhoda, The Simpsons) shows up as Daisy’s pregnant bff and voice of reason Ronnie. She’s always fun. Jackie Cooper (of the Superman movies) appears in one scene as Daisy’s rich, tennis bum father Ace. You can see where she gets her taste in men. My theory is Golan and/or Globus asked Cooper to take a break from Superman IV for his single-scene cameo which would turn out to be his final film role. Lasser (as the ex-wife) has a brief scene in a courtroom and Iman (as the ex-girlfriend) doesn’t even have any dialogue.
It’s impossible to hate a movie like Surrender. It’s harmless really. It just doesn’t leave a lasting impression. It’s the very definition of forgettable. I have a feeling I’ll forget most of it by this weekend.
