Jack and Sarah (1995)

75% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(7,934 ratings)

A temperamental London lawyer adapts to the challenges of fatherhood when he is left with sole responsibility for his infant daughter in this well-performed British comedy-drama. Richard E. Grant stars as Jack, a high-pressure attorney who believes his life is on the right track: a successful… More A temperamental London lawyer adapts to the challenges of fatherhood when he is left with sole responsibility for his infant daughter in this well-performed British comedy-drama. Richard E. Grant stars as Jack, a high-pressure attorney who believes his life is on the right track: a successful career, a beautiful wife (Imogen Stubbs), and a baby on the way. Tragedy strikes, however, when his wife dies during labor, leaving Jack to raise his daughter Sarah, named in his wife's honor. Shocked and depressed, Jack is forced to deal with his grief for the sake of the new child. At first reluctant to turn to others, he receives help from a local derelict (Ian McKellen) who begins to act as Jack's butler, and a charming young American woman, Amy (Samantha Mathis), who becomes Sarah's nanny. The new challenges of fatherhood provide Jack with his solace and eventually lead him reevaluate his life and behavior. The debut film of writer-director Tim Sullivan, Jack and Sarah follows a well-worn path, but Grant's nuanced central performance and a strong supporting cast elevate the material above its predictable outline. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Tim Sullivan (III)
Written By: Tim Sullivan
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Mar 22, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Aug 19, 2003
Studio: PolyGram Video

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a pleasant piece of work...
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A heartwarming, finely-performed movie
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Grant and Mathis are charming, but the script is not.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Well-performed domestic comedy-drama

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

A sweet film about a man so inept at being a father, it?s verging on child abuse. Everybody say Awwww!
Dean M

This affable romantic comedy-drama tends to wander from scene to scene and juggles a few more plot threads than it can handle; still, it never becomes predictable, and the surprising rapport between Richard E. Grant and Samantha Mathis (along with the excellent supporting cast)… More
This affable romantic comedy-drama tends to wander from scene to scene and juggles a few more plot threads than it can handle; still, it never becomes predictable, and the surprising rapport between Richard E. Grant and Samantha Mathis (along with the excellent supporting cast) carries the day.
xGary X

Richard E. Grant at his smarmiest in a nauseating schmaltz fest that surely could only be of interest to menopausal women. Utterly hateful crap.
Roy G

Well-performed domestic comedy-drama
Marcus W

Completely harmless, likeable and sweet. It's eveything you'd expect from a British rom-com - post Four Weddings.
Sarah B

I've never seen Richard E Grant so sensitive. Worth it just to see a new side to him.
Leo L

A favorite.