Born Yesterday Reviews

• The Original is BETTER!

  
  By on 2003-02-12
  This movie deserves zero stars. Avoid any version (VHS or DVD) of it!See the original in all its Glorious black and white beauty! The original is a million times better than this trite,stale re-hash with a not-very-talented cast. This a remake that should never have been made,it is horrible! To even suggest that Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson could recapture the charm and sparkle of Judy Holliday & William Holden is preposterous! Melanie Griffith has got to be one of the worst actresses ever, and she butchers this role. As for Don Johnson, it takes more than a pair of horn-rimmed glasses to pretend he is William Holden. John Goodman has the right girth and maybe a bit of the swagger and behaves like a brutish lout to compare with Broderick Crawford in the original "Born Yesterday". But just because the three leads in this remake may look or sound a little like the 3 Academy Award winning talents that were in the original cast, does not mean the movie will work. There is good reason why a remake hadn't been attempted for over 30 years--the film is so good, why mess with it? That's what this version is, a mess!
  Hollywood insists on tinkering with classics like this to try to bring them to a new audience, but most of the time, they fail, miserably. How many times (and millions of dollars later)do they need to be reminded of this? To borrow that old joke,(when somebody is trying to 'put one over on you'), "...let me check my driver's license, to see if I wasn't born yesterday " :
  Don't get fooled by this movie.

  It is wretched! Run, don't walk far,far, away from this one!Avoid it like the plague.
  Rent or buy the original BORN YESTERDAY, you'll be glad you did!
  
  

• Almost 50 years after the original, it still works!!

  
  By A28LVQGZOITWTN on 1999-04-09
  One of the biggest problems with remakes is often that they are extremely dated. Born Yesterday, the 1993 remake of the wonderful 50's comedy, starring the irrepressible Judy Holliday, and a gruff, teddy-bearish Brodrick Crawford--holds up beautifully. The basic story remains the same,(remember: "Do me a favor, Harry...drop dead!!!") but the details, the dress and the language are totally 90's. It's a delightful, and really--a touching story of a young woman (Melanie Griffith) who is brought to an appreciation of herself as something well beyond a gorgeous face. Her teacher is a kinder, gentler Don Johnson; and her Neanderthal-type husband, John Goodman is Harry, a nasty 'Fred Flintstone Goes To Washington' kind of guy! It all works till a bit of a let down near the end, but truly, there's a several minute rendition of the first 17 or so Ammendments to the Constitution sung (with energy) to the tune of the "12 Days of Christmas" that, alone, would be worth the price of admission!! Rent it, buy it; somehow, try it!!
  
  

• I never saw the original, version, so I loved it.

  
  By AR2DE47VCY1C8 on 2004-05-13
  

  
  John Goodman and Melanie Griffith played their parts suberbly.

  This is about a millionaire scrap metal tycoon who turns real estate mogul (John Goodman) whose clueless girlfriend (Melanie Griffith) finds herself without a clue in the Washington-Merrie-Go-Round. So her boyfriend (Goodman) hires Paul Verrall (Don Hohnson) to help her with the special skills, small talk, etc.

  A problem: boyfriend Goodman, like almost everyone else, as the story demonstrates, are not nearly as smart as they lead everyone else to believe, like the reporter for NPR who pretends to have read de Toqueville, but has not, as Griffith discovers. It is all an act, designed to impress others.

  The script is so true to life, full of flakes and phonies, that it is almost laughable.

  A great movie, and one you will probably remember for a long time. It shows how we all get bullied by the people with real power over us. Very entertaining, too.

  Joseph (Joe) Pierre
  
  author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and mainenance
  and other books

  
  
  

• VERY WATCHABLE DESPITE THE AIRHEAD BLONDE CLICHE..

  
  By A1L8HRCM60W0W7 on 2004-06-03
  It's difficult for me to tell which group this light film satirizes more: bimbo blondes (our protagonist blonde miraculously amasses sparkling intellect through avid reading of a dictionary and the Constitution) or boorish politicians.

  Because the new film can't really tell audiences anything about the idiocy of politics that they don't already know, I'd say Born Yesterday is principally about the blonde's enlightenment and her humiliation of her pompous politician husband.

  Overall it is a fairly inoffensive that lesirely goes about its comic business. I've seen it a couple of times and finished it on both occasions. And it's in colour (to counter-argue the whole Original vs New debate that other reviewers seem to be fascinated with).

  Recommended rental for sure.
  
  

• The beauty of brains

  
  By A3M6RVUVZOQZLB on 2007-12-31
  What holds this movie together is Melanie Griffith, a deliberate and thoughtful actress. Add the handsome Don Johnson as the teacher/reporter and John Goodman, the hard-boiled, no nonsense businessman and you have a winner.
  
  This movie is a study in so many things: self-respect, respect for others, integrity, dignity, and the beauty of brains. When Billie (Melanie) tells Paul (Don) that she can get anything she wants from Harry (John), she reveals her lack of understanding of self-worth: she wants a mink coat and gets it because she gives him what he wants. By movie's end she wants more and has earned the self-respect and determination to get it.
  
  The whole education aspect ("smarten up" Billie so she won't be an embarrassment while Harry is in Washington, D.C.) serves as a wonderful example to viewers of the power of knowledge. Harry hires Paul, who sets Billie off on an educational journey that jump starts her unused brain. First, she reads a book that no one actually reads--Alexis de Toqueville. She increases her vocabulary. She acquires culture through the art in the National Gallery of Art, especially focusing on a Van Gogh painting that depicts the dignity of manual labor, a reminder of her father.
  
  Billie questions later what she should do with this new, profound awareness. The status quo is easy to maintain; change is always difficult. In this case, with change come a new self-respect and self-confidence. The new Billie will marry Paul. If it seems she is trading one man for another, that is misleading because this particular man encourages her growth, in fact was the catalyst for it. Good things will come from this relationship.
  
  What an uplifting, happy movie for everyone: the new couple, Harry, who now must learn the art of patience while he awaits re-acquisition of his holdings one property per year, and the viewer, privy to their story and two fantastic kisses!
  
  
• Fun but just doesn't come up to par with the original...
  By A3MCQSIBV7QW8Q on 2003-01-24
  Melanie Griffith stars in this 1993 film as Billie Dawn, an ex-showgirl bimbo to millionaire businessman Harry Brock (John Goodman). Unbeknownst to the 'slightly' stupid and clueless Billie, Harry has a plan to lobby agendas that are friendly to his construction plans. He goes off to Washington DC to start his campaign taking Billie along with him. After a while, Billie is found to be an incredible embarrassment to all social situations, forcing Harry to make a quick decision. Instead of sending her away, he gets reporter Paul Verrall (Don Johnson) to help Billie 'get some more smarts'. While Billie begins to fall for the handsome reporter, she also discovers herself becoming intelligent and starts questioning her boyfriend.

  When I watched the 1950 version of the movie "Born Yesterday", I instantly fell in love with it. With the incredible acting done by Judy Holliday and William Holden, "Born Yesterday" is just a classic! So when I saw the 1993 version at the rental store, I just had to see how it would be. Unfortunately, the movie just suffered by comparison to the original though standing by itself it's not that bad.

  The story itself pretty much stays along the guidelines of the original plot. It was a bit disappointing though that a sense of the patriotism Americdans have towards their country isn't given to the viewer at all. When Judy Holliday was going all over Washington DC visiting all the sites, for example the White House, you couldn't help but be drawn through the visits yourself. The movie has it's very funny moments, but some of the time the lines just didn't seem to be delivered well.

  The best acting in the movie was done by Don Johnson and John Goodman. Don Johnson is DEFINITELY no William Holden, but he does hold his character together. Plus I couldn't really compare William Holden with Johnson since their characters were different. In my opinion, if they really wanted to cast someone as William Holden, I would have chosen Kevin Costner or Robert Redford, who I'm sure could have done it fairly well. John Goodman was just incredible, I could see a lot of "The Babe" from him in which he starred as Babe Ruth. Unfortunately, Melanie Griffith was pretty awful, sorry to say. While Judy Holliday had gotten an Oscar award for best actress, Melanie Griffith received the Razzie award for worst actress. I don't know about being the worst actress, but I do agree she just couldn't seem to handle her character of Billie.

  The movie is rated PG for some innuendos and language so parents should be sure to watch with younger kids. I can't say I really recommend this movie but I do urge people to see it if they were interested. But I must I can recommend people to see the 1950 version "Born Yesterday". Certainly a fantastic movie, it's a family favorite of mine and I HIGHLY recommend it!
  
  

• So it's a remake!?!
  By on 2003-12-07
  Who cares? If I want to watch the original and I feel that strongly about it, then that's what I'll do - stick to the original. In this case, I enjoyed this particular remake very much. It's not the original, no, but it's pure entertainment. I found it to be fresh and engaging. If you only wanna see the original, then skip the remake, but if you're willing to open your mind to a new script with some different actors, then sit back, relax, and enjoy the escapism.
  
  
• Extremely Enjoyable!!!
  By A39YYPS3S5GLI on 2002-12-13
  While I do not pretend that this film is a classic, and the rating of 5 stars may therefore be seen to be grossly exaggerating the quality of the film, it is highly enjoyable.
  Judy Holliday, William Holden and Broderick Crawford were excellent in the 1950 version but this remake, to me, benefits from a freshness which had been achieved by Douglas MacGrath's excellent reworking of the Garson Karin script.
  There are some films which are cinematically, artistically and critically excellent but there is another important factor and that is enjoyablity. Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson are both charming in this film and while Griffith can handle more, Johnson found his niche with this film.
  John Goodman is excellent as always and contributes to the very enjoyable while not mentally taxing film.
  
  
• One of my favorites!!! -- Like it better than the original.
  By A18929IU69VK5F on 2007-05-31
  Melanie Griffith is one of my favorite Bombshells. I think she was made for this role & is a role model for being sexy! I rented the original film about 6 months ago. I found the character, that Judy Holliday played, didn't elicit any sympathy from me & I didn't really like her character as a person. One thing I did love discovering, when I watched the original, was that the uncouth but cute "Whaaaaaat?!!!!!!" screamed by Billie Dawn, was from the original movie. Melanie's Billie Dawn makes you want her to succeed & makes you feel for her plight of being uneducated amongst the DC circle. Plus I just love most of Bille Dawn's outfits in this film. I watch this movie when I'm feeling a little flustered, overwhelmed & stupid -- I watch Billie struggle all over again & succeed all over again & it makes me feel like I can do what I set out to do. The movie even inspired me to get a copy of Democracy in America!
  
  
• Entertaining, and good acting
  By on 1999-07-31
  This is a delightful story with appealing characters and actors - even the "villain" played by John Goodman is endearing. Don Johnson as the intelligent journalist and Melanie Griffith as a ditzy kept woman who discovers that she has more value than her looks are both convincing. It is just plain fun from beginning to end.
  
  
• For Baby Boomers Looking for a Good Movie
  By AJW38VWINM5J on 2002-01-03
  As I become one of the "older generation", I become more disappointed at the Theater with what is being shown. I love comedy and this is a "girl" or "guy" flick that hits the spot for me. It's smart, romantic, humerous, with "gotcha" moments I took so much pleasure in that I sought it out to buy (something I am very selective about). I'm finding re-makes of "old" Hollywood films so charming (i.e., "Sabrina"). I thought the 1993 version to be so good and enjoyed the casts' performance so that I got curious to see the first version; I ordered both!
  These flicks did not offend me; they're not vulgar, violent, full of distasteful language, but ARE very entertaining.

  Debye McWaters, Augusta, Georgia
  
  

• Simply Irresistible
  By ASU5IH3CM6XXE on 2007-04-12
  Melanie Griffith's charm and acting prowess is simply irresistible and like that famous Robert Palmer song, she is gonna have to face it she's addicted to love. With Don Johnson, of all people!
  
  So what do you get when you throw John Goodman, Melanie Griffith, and the effeminately voiced Don Johnson into a bowl, simmer on high for about 2 hours, and then stir it all up? You get fun stew, that's what you get, and "Born Yesterday" is the rare exception of a remake that bests the original by leaps and bounds.
  
  If you haven't seen it, then you really should drop everything that you're doing right now and buy "Born Yesterday." Don't rent it. Renting is for suckas. Besides, you'll probably rent it, think it's the most incredible movie of all time, and then kick yourself because you could have just have bought it to begin with. So my advice, friend, is spare the self-kicking and just plunk down the $79.00 or however much DVDs cost (I don't know how much they go for these days, because I purchase all my DVDs on the streets while they're still in theaters. As illegal bootlegs--that's how I buy them all. It's more efficient that way).
  
  Anyway, in this movie Melanie Griffith is a fish-out-of-water, similar to when she was a Working Girl fish-out-of-water, or when she was a Shining Through fish-out-of-water, but completely dissimilar to when she was a Bonfire of the Vanities fish-out-of-water. She injects into every character she plays, thankfully, that wonderfully crispy and fun-loving voice that is only slightly deeper than Don Johnson's.
  
  You will only not like this movie if your movie taste is bad or if you are Antonio Banderas. All others can rejoice!
  
  
• Melanie Griffith/Don Johnson = Fun!
  By A2VND9FKA7T5KN on 2007-05-06
  This 1993 remake of the 1950 film "Born Yesterday" is full of mediocre acting and a contrived plot but the charm of Melanie's character and the chemistry with Don Johnson make it a fun bit of fluff you'll find yourself watching over and over.
  
  
• Better than I expected
  By A2Q7YBUV8IPTLW on 2000-06-09
  Melanie Griffith seems to have a real knack for picking good material. The funny thing is that I usually don't think her films are going to be that good. 'Milk Money' and 'Bonfire of the Vanities' were both pleasant surprises for me.

  She is perfect as the beautiful yet kept woman of a powerful businessman (John Goodman). Mostly however she is kept in the dark. Intellectually that is. When John Goodman has to go to Washington on business he decides to hire a tutor (Don Johnson) for Billie (Melanie Griffith) so that she will at least be able to make conversation on the Washington party circuit.

  But along the way Billie's eyes and mind are opened to a myriad of new ideas which have both good and bad consequences.

  And even despite the film's predictability it is highly entertaining.

  Definitely worth viewing but not necessarily worthy of a purchase. See for yourself.
  
  

• Born Yesterday
  By AM95GO43RSJYJ on 2007-10-18
  Really funny comedy. Melony Griffith is charming in her role as a dumb blond that smartens up and John Goodman gives a great performance as a hard nose business man who doesn't always get what he wants.
  
  

• Milk Money
• Born Yesterday
• Paradise
• A Stranger Among Us
• Sabrina