Hanging Up (2000)

12% of critics liked it
(85 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(20,786 ratings)

Diane Keaton directed and starred in this comedy/drama about a family brought together by potential tragedy. In her mid-40s, Eve (Meg Ryan) minds her house, runs a business organizing parties and events for others, and looks after her father (Walter Matthau), an alcoholic former writer who has grown… More Diane Keaton directed and starred in this comedy/drama about a family brought together by potential tragedy. In her mid-40s, Eve (Meg Ryan) minds her house, runs a business organizing parties and events for others, and looks after her father (Walter Matthau), an alcoholic former writer who has grown argumentative and increasingly difficult to handle. Eve's sisters -- Georgia (Keaton), who is a few years older and the editor of a successful fashion magazine, and Maddy (Lisa Kudrow), a few years younger and a working actress with a spot on a soap opera -- have also had to deal with Dad, but only by long distance when he makes one of his frequent telephone calls. Dad now doesn't have long to live, and the siblings must pull together and make peace with their father and each other. Sisters Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron adapted the screenplay from Delia's novel; the supporting cast includes Adam Arkin, Cloris Leachman, and Mary Steenburgen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Diane Keaton
Written By: Delia Ephron, Nora Ephron
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 18, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jun 27, 2000
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
Three of Hollywood's most beautiful and talented actresses, Ryan, Keaton, and Kudrow, are totally wasted in this shamelessly sappy meller that bears the schmaltzy sensibility of Nora Ephorn, its inept producer and co-scripter even though Keaton is helmer
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com
The only possible excuse for the new film Hanging Up has to be that it looked great in a deal memo.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A decent, often entertaining yet ultimately disappointing film.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Too scattered and insubstantial to be as funny and moving as it could have been.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
This movie is witty, spry, even touching.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
So much better than its trailer implies.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A real shame that this isn't a good movie.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
A sappy, overly familiar enterprise.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
The story bungles ahead pointlessly, mixing melodrama and self-help book affirmations.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
considering the movie's plot involves lots of crying over wrecked birthday parties and stolen stuffing recipes, most guys -- and more than a few women as well -- probably wouldn't want to know what they're missing.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

Hanging Up is a film about three sisters, very, very different from one another, who are unfortunately pulled together by their father, an alcoholic Alzheimer's patient who's wife left him and the family and has never recovered. It's taut, depressing, and harried… More
Hanging Up is a film about three sisters, very, very different from one another, who are unfortunately pulled together by their father, an alcoholic Alzheimer's patient who's wife left him and the family and has never recovered. It's taut, depressing, and harried throughout, mostly lending to the fact that this is clearly all about Meg Ryan. The other two sisters are background noise in this movie, every problem, every little thing that needs encapsulating being about Ryan. Keaton directed and co-starred in this as the older sister who never gives credit where it's due, and typically can't be reached. This character is so bothersome to me and unneeded throughout, that her presence in any scene feels contemptuous. Kudrow is the other mess of a sister, who is eccentric and naive, and also need not be in this film. If it had focused solely on the relationship between Ryan's character and her father (portrayed by the still lucid and very talented Walter Matthau) it would have been more poignant and made a bit more sense. What really irked me was that her mother doesn't want anything to do with her, so leaves this family to ruin, and barely anything is really explained about their relationship. If that had been better cultivated, it would have been very moving and harrowing. Instead we're stuck with this maudlin, overworked plot that just keeps going into flashbacks that are supposed to reveal these big events in time, but are actually just flavorless frosting on an already bothersome cake. Neither is it funny, nor dramatic, nor a good movie for Ryan, who also made the unfortunate films Kate and Leopold and Addicted to Love in that decade. It's just not worth it in any way, shape, or form.
moon r

Three grown up sisters face the impending demise of their father in this Keaton directed, Ephron scripted chick flick about facing mortality. It means well but often is strained and labored.
Film C

i liked it it was funny and sweet and showed how three completely different sisters fnally find themselves its really good and worth a watch!
Candy R

Movie about three different sisters.
Dean M

Fantastic and hilarious comedy of three sisters who always has lengthy phone conversation about their cranky father. I really love Meg Ryan's humour and heart and Diane Keaton does an excellent job on directing this film.
Leigh R

Great movie.
Dannielle A

I didn't care much for this movie. It was okay... I mean, there were funny parts and emotional parts, and I like Meg Ryan, but I really don't care for Diane Keaton, and I don't think I've ever seen a movie that I liked with her in it.
Sunil J

Perhaps a guilty pleasure. I liked this movie for all it's gooey emotional baggage. I was more than a little moved. Plus, Walter Matthau and Cloris Leachman!
Leo L

A favorite.