Housesitter (1992)
-
37% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
46% of users liked it
(39,477 ratings)
In this romantic comedy from director Frank Oz, Steve Martin plays Boston architect Newton Davis, an impulsive dreamer who builds a bucolic dream home for his girlfriend (Dana Delany) as a means of proposing to her -- only she turns him down. Three months later, the depressed Davis meets a waitress… More In this romantic comedy from director Frank Oz, Steve Martin plays Boston architect Newton Davis, an impulsive dreamer who builds a bucolic dream home for his girlfriend (Dana Delany) as a means of proposing to her -- only she turns him down. Three months later, the depressed Davis meets a waitress who calls herself Gwen (Goldie Hawn), though pretending to be Hungarian proves to be only the first of her many deceptions. Davis has a one-night stand with Gwen during which he tells her the sad story of the house, which remains unoccupied just outside the city in his hometown of Dobbs Mills, because he can't bear to sell it. Following what seems to be a familiar path for this con artist, Gwen locates the house, figuring she can take up residence without anyone noticing. During a trip to the local grocery, she ends up telling the proprietor she's Davis' wife while trying to charge her purchases to his account. When she offers the same story to a local furniture dealer (Donald Moffat), unaware he's Davis' father, it triggers a string of fabrications in which the shocked Davis unwittingly becomes a co-conspirator. Seeing an opportunity of his own, Davis allows Gwen to stay in the house and agrees to go along with her story in hopes of winning back his jealous ex. Of course, this also necessitates outlandish lie upon outlandish lie, leaving the whole enterprise forever on the verge of collapse. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi
Critic Reviews
-
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
It's like a game of charades that goes on way too long at a dinner party nobody wanted to attend in the first place.
-
Fred Topel, About.com
Boring comedy. Nothing happens for about 40 minutes, then a few lies are cute, but the obvious love story is unsatisfying.
-
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
Likeable movie, great house.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Steve Martin
as Newton Davis
-
Goldie Hawn
as Gwen
-
Dana Delany
as Becky
-
Julie Harris
as Edna Davis
-
Donald Moffat
as George Davis
-
Peter MacNicol
as Marty
-
Richard B. Shull
as Ralph
-
Laurel Cronin
as Mary
-
Roy Cooper
as Moseby
-
Christopher Durang
as Reverend Lipton
-
Heywood Hale Broun
as Travis
-
Cherry Jones
as Patty
-
Vasek Simek
as Karol
-
Suzanne Whang
as Moseby's Secretary
-
Mary Klug
as Lorraine
-
Alice Duffy
as Hazel
-
Ken Cheeseman
as Harv
-
Grenville Cuyler
as Party Guest
-
Hazel Gardner
as Mother with Stroller
-
Molly D. Gerard
as Party Guest
-
Phyllis Jubett Gould
as Dobb's Mill Pedestrian
-
David Hannegan
as Party Guest
-
George Jones
as Restaurant Guest
-
Patricia Madden
as China Shop Proprietor
-
Edward Mason
as Party Guest
-
Moira J. McCarthy
as Restaurant Guest
-
Belle McDonald
as Aunt Betty
-
Bill L. McDonald
as Uncle Ray
-
Michael Nurse
as Dedication Ceremony Speaker
-
Kevin O'Brien
as Caterer Truck Driver
-
Howe F. Perrigo
as Bus Person
-
Ricardo Pitts-Wiley
as Bus Driver
-
Rose-Ann San Martino
as Shopkeeper
-
Maggie Steig
as Party Guest
-
Tony V.
as Bus Driver
- John Lyons
