Sally Field has such a rapport with the camera that movie audiences immediately relate to her highs and woes; it's gratifying to see her in a sunny, upbeat comedy, and one almost wants to let "Surrender" pass just on the basis on Field's energy and charisma alone. Alas, it's a film built on such an overworked premise--love and money--that goes off into so many perplexing directions, it results in being one of Sally's weakest movie vehicles. Michael Caine does what he can with silly role of wealthy writer taken to the cleaners by women over the years, meeting assembly-line artist Field and pretending to be poor (but of course, she's the one pure lady who wouldn't care if he had money or not). There are some interesting bits in the film: a date to the airport--to watch the planes fly overhead--is curious and amusing (and looks good on film) and the embarrassing way in which the two lovers meet. But not enough wit was put into the basic make-up of the story, which plays like something from the Doris Day-Rock Hudson generation. That's OK if the picture has the wit and snap of "Lover Come Back", but "Surrender" is terribly insecure and unsure of itself. ** from ****
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moonspinner5529 September 2005
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gridoon13 August 1999Michael Caine is always worth watching, and Sally Field is at her most attractive here, but this romantic comedy is just very mild and weightless (and I mean it in a negative way). It's occasionally enjoyable, though.
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rblayer14 September 2002Three very likable stars do a great job with an old movie premise...for about two-thirds of the film. Girl falls in love with wealthy man pretending to be poor, discovers his deception, feels betrayed....etc. etc. Sound familiar? It is, and Fields, Caine and Guttenburg do a great job...for a while...but even these three can only take a tired story line so far. The show fall apart after the slot machine scene, and try though they may, the cast is unable to eradicate it from the toilet bowl. There are some extremely funny scenes, especially Guttenburg's post-shower phone call with a client, and a lot of double entendre, but sadly, the whole thing comes apart at the seams.
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vertigo_145 April 2004If you've seen Intolerable Cruelty, you've already got a pretty good idea about this movie, which achingly examines the possibility of true love triumphing over mere greed.
Sally Field is a low income artist who is just looking for a real romance, not finding much satisfaction in her relationship with Martin (Guttenburg) a self centered lawyer. What a coincidence that Shuan Stein (Caine), a wealthy writer who have written over much of his fortune to gold digging ex-lovers, should be looking for the same thing. With a few moments of good timing, the two find each other. But, Shuan Stein secretly tests his girlfriend's loyatly by hiding information about his wealth, posing instead as a poor, out-of-work writer madly in love with her. And this is where the story is enjoyable, as Sally Field and Michael Caine charm the audience as conveniently matched romantics.
But, the story becomes a drag once the movie gets into seemingly endless bickering among the characters over matters of money when Martin asks Daisy to marry him and when Daisy (as you should expect) will discover Stein's secret. At that point, everything becomes talk about money, money, money and each character (except for maybe Martin who never seems to have a clue about what's going on) doubting if true love really exists. And as a result, the sweet love story we once enjoyed among Daisy and Martin in the first half is never recovered.
As a romantic comedy, it is a tolerably sweet and funny movie, for the first half. But, I think it ran out of steam as characters never quite seem to retain or even redevelop the charm that they had in the beginning, even after they've resolved their problems.
This is a good show by Sally Field (this is just her kind of part...kind of Murphy's Romance styled) and Michael Caine as the sweet English chap. As for Steve Guttenberg, I only didn't like him because his character was such a creep. -
BandSAboutMovies28 March 2022Jerry Belsen, who directed and wrote this movie, along with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Fun With Dick and Jane amongst many others, may have invented the phrase "You know what happens when you assume..."
Sean Stein (Michael Caine) is a successful novelist, but he's been through so many divorces and bad relationships that he never wants to fall in love again, until he has his meet cute with artist Daisy Morgan (Sally Field) when they're forced to strip and bound together by thieves at a charity dance. Yes, this actually happens.
Working with his lawyer Jay (Peter Boyle), Sean decides to hide who he is and actually win Daisy over with no money being involved. The problem is that she already has a boyfriend, the not so great Marty (Steve Guttenberg).
Then she finds out who Sean really is and tells him that she truly loves him. The problem is that he still thinks it's all about money. This will rinse and repeat throughout the movie.
At least this has an interesting cast, with Jackie Cooper in his last role as Daisy's father, along with Julie Kavner, Louise Lasser and Iman.
Supposedly, this movie is based on Belsen's real life, with him claiming that every single thing that happened to Sean happened to him. Sadly, that experience could not help the death throes of Cannon, as this movie made $5 million on a $15 million budget. -
stanb-29 August 2002I really enjoyed this romantic comedy. I found it funny and kept my interest throughout. Sterling performances by Sally Field and Michael Caine. Some of the supporting cast also turned in good performances. Well worth catching on video or cable.
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SnoopyStyle9 June 2021Successful writer Sean Stein (Michael Caine) had been taken to the cleaners over and over again. First, he let his wife win due to his guilt about his mistress. Next, he's giving up another half to the mistress. He even gets robbed by a hooker. Now, he's gunshy with women. He's moving to Kuwait where women can't vote. Daisy Morgan (Sally Field) is a frustrated artist forced to mass produce hotel room paintings. She's stuck dating unscrupulous lawyer Marty (Steve Guttenberg) who refuses to commit. Both Sean and Daisy happen to be at a large fundraiser when robbers break in and strip everyone naked. Sean and Daisy are forced tied together.
I remember the elevator scene. I think I remember a few other scenes. It may be from the trailer. More likely, I saw the movie and forgot it. There's a reason to forget this. I don't like Sean and this movie is bothersome. I do like everybody initially. Sally Field is always adorable. Michael Caine can be very fun but when he starts pursuing Daisy, he becomes a stalker and a bit creepy. He needs to hit the cute button rather than the creepy button. The meet-cute is pretty cute but it goes downhill from there. The money issue keeps interfering with the rom-com. The basic premise is problematic for its romance and its comedy. It's in the movie's genes. I'm sure that Jerry Belson thinks that this is funny for all those divorced guys out there but I'm not sure that it's funny for anyone else. -
The opening scene of this light screwball comedy is not for those who are against modern divorce laws. Successful author Michael Caine is taken to the cleaners by a legitimate wife and a common law wife, then ripped off by a prostitute he only wanted to talk to. So when he meets struggling artist Sally Field who seems sincere, it seems to be love at first sight, since they are tied up naked literally after the sheik party they are at is invaded by a group of robbers. He finds out where she lives, and gets her to go out with him, claiming to be broke so if he can confirm that she's the one. Odd to say the least.
One issue is that she's got an attorney boyfriend (Steve Guttenberg) who whines constantly which is perhaps why she's so easy in cheating on him with Caine who longs for romance. Two veteran scene stealers co-star, with Julie Kavner delightful as Field's co-worker at a cheap painting factory (fun to watch how these assembly line paintings come together) and Peter Boyle as Caine's shyster attorney. Field has a champ of a wealthy father with old rascal Jackie Cooper in his last film.
The situation is absurd, but Caine and Field have terrific chemistry and apparently having a terrific time working together again, also once again not a hit, but certainly not the disaster of "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure". In spite of all the implausibilities, the film is so good natured that it's hard to criticize beyond the obvious. Some of the situations are shocking in a modern sensibility, but it's presented in a way where laughs are unavoidable, especially the elevator choice that Caine has to make. -
malcotoro10 July 2006I love this movie, it's very funny and uplifting. Play it if you are in a mood you want to escape. Indeed there are some belly laughs (on my part) Both Michael and Sally do a great job, and Steve Gutenberg is hilarious as a selfish whiny guy. He snaps his fingers when he is on the phone, he wants a pen, he wants a piece of paper. In the shower, he wants to know where his towel is... Michael is a successful writer taken to the cleaners in Court by 2 ex wives, and he is really looking for a girl to love him for himself, and not know about his writing fame and fortune. 2 elevators are open for him to use, one with a stunning blonde inside, the other with an evil guy and his snarling and vicious looking dog. He ignores the blonde and steps inside joining the man with the snarling dog I really should give it a 10...Highly recommended
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greenfairy-493006 September 2015I've scoured the internet trying to find this on DVD. The chemistry between Michael Caine and Sally Field is outstanding. I don't know if the following line would be called a spoiler....I don't think so I just think of it as one of many funny incidents that happen in this flick. It is the scene where they are tied up together (naked) so funny. Steve Guttenberg as a spoiled rich guy is funny as well. I can't believe this movie hasn't been done on DVD. I've seen so many movies that shouldn't be on DVD. This movie is so much better than those. I believe if given the chance this movie would do well on DVD. If I can't get it that way, I may get desperate enough to get the VHS version...hope it doesn't come down to that. Whoever you DVD gods are, I hope you do this one SOON!