Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Chris Noth

The tires of a baby-blue ’53 Cadillac Coupe de Ville convertible squeal down the New York street, and none of its occupants looks back. The beautiful but mercurial Ann Devereaux (Renée Zellweger) has ...( read more  read more... )just left her philandering husband Dan Devereaux (Kevin Bacon), a society bandleader, and taken to the road with her teenage sons, George (Logan Lerman) and Robbie (Mark Rendall), in search of a wealthy replacement mate. Although it’s 1953, Ann is certain that her girlish charms will serve her as well as they did two decades earlier.

But time has marched on since Ann’s courting days, and it seems that the losers and playboys outnumber the eligible and willing bachelors. Ann never gives up hope, but a series of new schools for the boys, ever more humble lodgings and romantic misadventures start to take the gloss off their trip. Yet Ann is indefatigable, her pride matched by the flighty enthusiasm of her older son Robbie, a flamboyant boy who believes he is meant for a life on the stage, and the cynical wit of George, an observant aspiring writer. As the miles roll by, their journey veers from eccentric, to hair rising, to poignant, to comic.

From her impulsive choices to the downright bizarre characters they meet on the road, Ann steers her sons on a narrow highway between excitement and panic. But ultimately, George discovers the determination, dignity and love underneath his mother’s narcissistic exterior. And Ann makes a different future for herself and her sons than any of them had imagined.

Flixster Users

53% liked it

257 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

61 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Richard Loncraine

Release Date: August 21, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (107)


  • October 28, 2009
    "My One and Only" claims to be based on the early life of the prolific bronze-tanned actor George Hamilton. This, as you will gather by a little bit of research, may be the kind of film that's takes extraordinary liberties in fictionalizing it's "true" account, not that it makes ...( read more)the film any less charming. It's an odd sort of "biopic", a whimsical road trip that bolsters some great performances and an often hilarious script.

    Anne Deveraux (Renée Zellweger) is the father of two boys from different marriages: Robbie (Mark Rendall), a homosexual with Hollywood aspirations, and George (Logan Lerman), a sarcastic individual with dreams of becoming a writer. Anne's current husband is Dan (Kevin Bacon), a reptilian deadbeat band leader whose one hit is the name of the film. When Anne catches Dan philandering with another woman, she takes the boys on a cross country trip from New York to Los Angeles, making pit-stops in Boston, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis along the way.

    She's searching for a new husband to serve as a surrogate father for the boys, but promising bachelors are far from plentiful. One of her first candidates is Harlan (Chris Noth), an army veteran who lectures George that, by marrying his mother, he will become the top dog. By this point, I was ready to abandon hope - but, luckily, Harlan's character is the closest that the picture comes to shameless cartoon.

    Her most touching relationship is with Bud (Nick Stahl), a quiet mechanic almost half her age. He flatters her at every opportunity, but George does not approve of the age difference. Stahl, amongst the surplus of great character actors, especially stands out. So much so that you'll be disappointed when you realize how small his part is.

    Zellweger seems to have been coasting as of late, delivering painfully hammy performances in the likes of Ed Harris "Appaloosa". Here, however, we get a glimpse of what drew audiences to her in the first place. She's wonderful, a glowing performer of great comedic timing. She's the perfect sort of bell to inhabit a character like this one.

    "My One and Only" wears out it's steam by the end, and it perhaps relies on one too many cliches of this sort of dysfunctional family genre - but despite my reservations, it's harmless, well-spirited, and a pleasant picture to sit through. Logan Lerman's performance should solidify him as one of the most promising stars-on-the-rise, but it's Zellweger who truly excels - a performance that reestablishes her as one of the most capable actresses working within the Hollywood system today.
  • September 19, 2009
    A coming of age story at times hysterically funny and other times quite moving. Great performances from the cast, but its the script and direction that set this film apart. Also interesting to find who the story was based on. Thoroughly enjoyable.
  • November 7, 2009
    Better than I thought it would be.
  • November 4, 2009
    The best thing about the film is the cast, everyone does a fine job, especially Nick Stahl in a small but good role. The story is uneven, he has some slow spots. The period detail is decent but flawed. Well produced, good cinematography and costumes.
  • October 25, 2009
    Please stab me through the heart! What an intense and terrific way to come of age. To roll through America in a 53 Cadilillac Coupe de Ville convertible - thoughts being bounced around in your head, choosing how to live a life. It's the kind of contrast between pessimism and opti...( read more)mism created often seen in people who don't have money and people who have always had it. Although there is something very disturbing when men called Anne beautiful in her 'sagging' age, her often, nagging persistence. Men's faces are drawn with resemblance to some other Animals, the Italians call it, to be drawn in Caricatura. But I guess a movie is without its faults & its reality often doesn't have to comply with ours.
  • October 15, 2009
    i really llke this movie ... it had sweet moments
  • October 12, 2009
    i love the clothes and the cinematography. especially when they are on road trip
  • October 11, 2009
    tear jerked me, nicely acted, nice ending, i thought it was a drag, but the twists keeps me glued i just cant believe its the story of george hamilton
  • October 7, 2009
    Good flick, Renee Zellweger is picking some really good roles these days!
  • August 29, 2009
    This movie looks so amazingly boring. WoW. The only reason i probably WOULD see it is Logan Lerman xD

Critic Reviews


September 4, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A grand, colorful coming-of-age story with a candy box color palette and a standout performance by Renée Zellweger. It's a great story and a great crowd-pleaser. full review

September 3, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

My One and Only is like a tale told by a first-rate raconteur, its twists and turns all the more intriguing because it's all true -- more or less. full review

September 3, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

This isn't exactly untraveled territory, but director Richard Loncraine makes this potentially familiar story fresh... full review

September 3, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Basing psychological speculation on a biopic is notoriously risky. All I can say is that after seeing My One and Only, Hamilton's persona somehow clicked into place for me. full review

August 21, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Flouncing across the country like Miss Piggy, Renée Zellweger makes My One and Only a fabulous bore. full review

August 21, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

My One and Only is an affectionate picture, set in the early 1950s, that coasts breezily on its charm and style. full review

August 20, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

My One and Only has an old-fashioned sensibility making for a pleasantly diverting road movie. full review

August 19, 2009
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

More dull calamity than stirring triumph. full review

August 14, 2009
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

Aimed directly at the older audiences who remember when movies effortlessly mixed hilarity, family drama and sentiment without blinking an eye, My One and Only is that rare kind of comedy that doesn't... full review

View more My One and Only reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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My One and Only Trivia


  • I lopped off heads because "there can be only one" and escaped from a futuristic prison in two of my movies. Who am I?  Answer »
  • What movie do these lines come from: "I'm looking for the man I love." "I'm sorry lad, but my one and only love is the sea." "Hide the rum!"  Answer »
  • My first correction. Just got this one wrong and shouldn't have: "The first and only X-rated movie to win Best Picture was Midnight Cowboy, which ironically won in 1969. It in fact was released in 1969 but the award ceremonies were 1970.   Answer »
  • In the bench warmers,Gus and one of the other coaches were having a fued and the coach said "tidy twister!" What was Gus's response?  Answer »

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