Year of the Comet (VHS, 1992)

If you're looking for a fun, slightly quirky romantic comedy, "Year of the Comet" is a great viewing experience. The story centers around Margaret Harwood (played by Penelope Ann Miller), a 28-yr-old single attempting to learn the wine business at her father's distinguished wine brokerage firm, Harwood's. Overworked and underappreciated, the fun really begins when Maggie meets Oliver Plexico (played by Tim Daly of "Wings" TV fame), and the two attempt to deliver an expensive, famous bottle of wine to a wealthy Harwood's customer. Maggie and Oliver's lively interaction as they get to know one another while trying to keep the wine safe from other questionable characters is what makes this film so engaging.
I've been unable to find any new releases (VHS or DVD) of this movie over the years, so was pleased to find a used VHS copy offered on eBay. For lighthearted, romantic comedy -- you can't beat this film.

For comments about viewing by children, please see the bottom.

Year of the Comet is definitely a little different. In viewing movies, ordinarily I am watching for entertainment, and want those who invested so much effort in entertaining me to succeed. I don't look for problems, and those I see, I try to grin and bear cheerfully.

The setting, though a boy-meets-girl, boy-gets-girl kind of story, is refreshing. Set in Europe with fine European supporting actors, the plot of the movie blends the unexpected with the expected. To watch a movie without the typical careers (cops, detectives, blah, blah) rates as certain improvement.

The best thing about this movie is Tim Daly as Oliver Plexico. The man as actor never hits a false note, except in the opening scene, and just for one line. But in the rest of the film, and even in the opening scene, he is delightful and convincing in every way. Frankly, the lack of interest in him by the female lead baffles me. Don't know enough about making movies to know if that was the director's choice, but it's disappointing to see the male lead's sincerety utterly wasted on an uninteresting and uninterested female.

The European actors are really refreshing. They all speak English so differently, and their characters are all so different -- just really a fun part of the movie!

The story, meant for the chick-flick set, definitely has its treacly moments. I forgive these excesses - or simply cover my eyes and ears! The male lead character is intended as a rakish sort, but is slightly exaggerated in this. (And I completely agree with him about the wine and the beer.)

One thing that this movie brings to specific relief is the frequent and odd imbalance between the basis for romantic interest in men and women found in the movies. The male lead is the renaissance man, but the female lead's claim to fame is that she is a wine expert. In order to render the two equals, the clear implication is that the female lead's prickliness makes up the balance. Of course, the typical chacterization of her outlook isn't "prickliness," but that she is perhaps "independent," or "assertive," or what have you. But it boils down to her being ridiculously sensitive and consequently irritating. Quite frankly, in my universe, that would NEVER make up the balance. But in the universe of film and the industry's urge to cater to women's new self-image, the "independent" woman, a/k/a the irritating shrew, if a woman is "independent" she is the equal of any man, even if he invented the cure for cancer and she sweeps hallways. Bah, humbug!!

Viewing by children: Although this movie has a dowdy female lead, the story has the male lead make an inappropriate - and out of character - come-on to the female lead. They have sex and later reference this before they have had so much as a date. It's totally unsuitable for younger audiences. There is also a scene in the last quarter of the film which includes undulating parts of a naked woman. Only parts. Separating out these portions would be difficult. It's unfortunate the movie makers did not find another way to accomplish their goals, so that it would be suitable for young viewers.

All in all, a great movie to watch if you are capable of letting the flaws flow off of you like water off a duck.

A comedy about romance and other perilous adventures. Love is never easy...but in this action packed comedy from Peter Yates ("Bullitt"), it's a dangerous and hilarious proposition. "THE ROMANCING THE STONE OF THE '90s!"

This is one of my alltime favorite romance comedy movies ever....maybe because I like wine so much too! This is just an all around feel good movie, with lots of action and lots of laughs with a wonderfully surprising and romantic ending.

This is a great silly love story for all those that love to see happy-every- after-ending. Of course, boy gets girl, it's the how boy goes about getting the girl that makes this a must see movie from the past. The story is full of laughs, love, and just plain fun. It is one of the must see over and over movies that I have in my home. I have hunted for this movie for a very long time. This is the second one I have purchased from ebay...the first one I sent off to my sister who is stationed overseas. This is a good clean romance without all of the explict sex. I highly recommend it.