Never Again (2001)

31% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(951 ratings)

Two singles in their early fifties who are convinced love has passed them by find each other -- and then try to figure out what to do next -- in this romantic comedy. Grace Minor (Jill Clayburgh) is a social worker whose personal life has hit the skids. Prompted by her friends Natasha (Sandy Duncan)… More Two singles in their early fifties who are convinced love has passed them by find each other -- and then try to figure out what to do next -- in this romantic comedy. Grace Minor (Jill Clayburgh) is a social worker whose personal life has hit the skids. Prompted by her friends Natasha (Sandy Duncan) and Elaine (Caroline Aaron), Grace takes the plunge and sets up a meeting with a man she's found through an Internet dating service. The date is a complete disaster, and Grace, deciding she needs a stiff drink, dashes into the first watering hole she finds. Grace finds herself in a gay bar, where she meets Christopher Roland (Jeffrey Tambor), a full-time exterminator and part-time jazz musician who, after an unsatisfying relationship with a younger woman and a surprising erotic dream, thinks he might be turning gay. Christopher and Grace strike up a conversation and quickly discover they have a great deal in common. They begin dating, but both have been through enough bad relationships in the past that they are determined not to get too serious about this one, even after they discover they get along extremely well in bed. Never Again also features Michael McKean as a cheerful transvestite prostitute and Bill Duke as one of Christopher's bandmates. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Eric Schaeffer
Written By: Eric Schaeffer
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 12, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Jan 28, 2003
Studio: USA Films

Critic Reviews

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
After a while, Never Again gets so busy celebrating ageless virility that it forgets to tell a decent story.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
In theory, a middle-aged romance pairing Clayburgh and Tambor sounds promising, but in practice it's something else altogether -- clownish and offensive and nothing at all like real life.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
There are enough things that poke out rather boldly from Never Again's modest proportions to keep it verging on interesting. And not all of them are strapped to Jill Clayburgh's waist.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Just offbeat enough to keep you interested without coming close to bowling you over.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Clayburgh and Tambor are charming performers; neither of them deserves Eric Schaeffer.
Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail
Rarely does a film so graceless and devoid of merit as this one come along.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Click to read review
Wilson Morales, BlackFilm.com
Schaeffer has written a clever, plausible, funny, and romantic film.
Merle Bertrand, Film Threat
By turns touching, raucously amusing, uncomfortable, and, yes, even sexy, Never Again is a welcome and heartwarming addition to the romantic comedy genre.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
This film is just plain awful, despite the efforts of two enormously talented and likable stars who are ultimately done in by an impossible script.
Brian Orndorf, Modamag.com
When a director deliberately sends his own film down such a well-worn path, you know you're in the presence of a truly bad director.
Dan Fienberg, L.A. Weekly
Tambor and Clayburgh make an appealing couple - he's understated and sardonic, she's appealingly manic and energetic. Both deserve better.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
I never thought I'd say this, but I'd much rather watch teens poking their genitals into fruit pies!
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
Both awful and appealing.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Schaeffer has crafted a winsomely appealing love story for -- surprise! -- the over-50 set.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
There's something deeply creepy about Never Again, a new arrow in Schaeffer's quiver of ineptitudes.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
As shameless a love story as anything that Hollywood has ever done.
Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Despite these annoyances, the capable Clayburgh and Tambor really do a great job of anchoring the characters in the emotional realities of middle age.
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
If Never Again is the best film we can get about older adult sexuality, it's no wonder we're not seeing more movies like it.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
Sex and romance after 50? Here's proof that it not only exists, a movie about it can be funny and cute.