Stanley & Iris (1990)
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29% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(3,608 ratings)
In this socially conscious drama with romantic overtones, Iris (Jane Fonda) is a working mother with a job at a large commercial bakery who is still getting over the death of her husband, though her circumstances don't give her much time to grieve. She's sharing her house with her two children,… More In this socially conscious drama with romantic overtones, Iris (Jane Fonda) is a working mother with a job at a large commercial bakery who is still getting over the death of her husband, though her circumstances don't give her much time to grieve. She's sharing her house with her two children, Kelly (Martha Plimpton) and Richard (Harley Cross); her unemployed sister, Sharon (Swoosie Kurtz); and her thuggish brother-in-law. The tensions at home become even greater when the teenaged Kelly announces that she's pregnant. One of the few bright spots in Iris' life is her blossoming friendship with Stanley (Robert De Niro), a nice guy who works in the bakery's cafeteria. However, Iris starts noticing a few odd things about Stanley and it slowly dawns on her that he can't read. When the boss figures this out, Stanley loses his job -- an especially troubling development, as Stanley has just had to put his father in a retirement home. Homeless and out of work, Stanley turns to Iris with a special request -- he'd like her to teach him how to read. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.
- Directed By
- Martin Ritt
- Written By
- Pat Barker, Harriet Frank Jr. / Irving Ravetch
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- In Theaters
- Feb 9, 1990 Limited
- On DVD
- Jan 13, 2004
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
The elements are in place but they don't add up to great drama in this well-meant effort to personalize the plight of illiterate people.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's as honest and direct and entertaining as the considerable talents of everyone involved can make it.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Here, in a movie less animated than a barrel of tree sloths, Ritt encourages stale performances and a pace as dull as more tree sloths.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
McAlpine may be the movie's smartest contributor. He alone seems to realize that this pedantic project will soon be graduating into home-video or classroom use.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
While some of the sloppy filmmaking can be forgiven, the film's core message cannot.
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Cast
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Jane Fondaas Iris King -
Robert De Niroas Stanley Everett Cox -
Swoosie Kurtzas Sharon
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Martha Plimptonas Kelly King -
Harley Crossas Richard King -
Jamey Sheridanas Joe
