Now And Then

...weird at times, you know? Now and Then, which was on over here a few weeks back, incidentally the same weekend it was on UK terrestrial TV, is called Damals und Heute – i.e. Then and Now. It’s like when we say ”head over heels”, and they say “throat over head”. Strange but true. I saw Now and Then in the UK when it was first released. Then I bought the video, and the soundtrack. Then the book – although it ...
...Story **

Now and Then is a film a lot of you won’t have heard of, I suspect. Aimed at around the 10-20 year old age group, (or those who fell into this category during the mid 90s when it was released), it’s not a particularly funny film, nor a scary one. It has no wonderful special effects, and isn’t gripping, or intense or deep in anyway. Instead, it’s a feel good family film, and a cringe-worthy, cheesy one ... more

Germans can be weird at times, you know? Now and Then, which was on over here a few weeks back, incidentally the same weekend it was on UK terrestrial TV, is called Damals und Heute – i.e. Then and Now. It’s like when we say ”head over heels”, and they say “throat over head”. Strange but true. I saw Now and Then in the UK when it was first released. Then I bought the video, and the soundtrack. Then the book – although it was the German version from a bookshop in Vienna because extensive searching on my part revealed that there only seemed to be 3 copies of the English version ever published, and all of those in America. Needless to say, I liked the film.

** Story **

Now and Then is a film a lot of you won’t have heard of, I suspect. Aimed at around the 10-20 year old age group, (or those who fell into this category during the mid 90s when it was released), it’s not a particularly funny film, nor a scary one. It has no wonderful special effects, and isn’t gripping, or intense or deep in anyway. Instead, it’s a feel good family film, and a cringe-worthy, cheesy one at that. But I still liked it.

The film starts in the present day, with a 30 something year old journalist, Samantha, returning to her home town, a rustic back and beyond place in Indiana. It’s a long way, in various ways, from her New York home, and she’s not too happy to be making the trip. She doesn’t however, have that much say in the matter, because many years ago, she and her friends made a pact that, should any of them ever need help, the others would all come to their aid. One of the group – Chrissie – is about to give birth any day, and so they’ve all been summoned. For Tina, it’s a case of a flight from LA where she’s now a famous film star. For Roberta, a GP, it’s a two minute drive, because, like Chrissie, she never left town. It’s the first time they’ve been together for a long time, and as they start to reminisce about the years gone by, the film starts to show their lives through one very memorable summer.

It’s a family film, and a lot of the story is to do with families too. Roberta’s being brought up by her father after her mother passed away. Tina’s parents spend their time at the Country Club, rather than at home with their only child. Chrissie’s mother is old fashioned and rather warped in her ways – and her explanation of what sex is, later in the film, is hysterical. As for Sam, she has both parents still alive, and still living under the same roof, but it’s not all fun and games. The girls have a goal for the summer – to earn enough money for a tree-house of their own – and the story revolves around their quest to accomplish this, and the adventures they experience along the way. This makes it sound very Enid Blyton-esque, but it’s not at all. The film has only a basic plot – the need for a summer of independence – but because of this they can fit in lots of different mini-stories. There are sad bits and silly bits, discoveries of life and love, divorce, murder, suicide, the afterlife and lots of fake boobs.

In the last few minutes, with the story almost over, we switch back to the present day, where, baby in hand, Chrissie and the others go over what really happened that summer, filling in the blanks that the others never knew. They might be best friends, but there are some things that, when you’re 12, you just don’t want to share with anyone.

It’s a predictable film in places, it’s not really all that thought provoking, and it has its dodgy moments, but it certainly cheers you up if you’re a teenage girl having a bad day.

** Main Cast **

Christina Ricci - Young Roberta Martin
Rosie O'Donnell - Dr. Roberta Martin

Thora Birch - Young Tina 'Teeny' Tercell
Melanie Griffith - Tina 'Teeny' Tercell

Gaby Hoffmann - Young Samantha Albertson
Demi Moore - Samantha Albertson

Ashleigh Aston Moore - Young Chrissie DeWitt
Rita Wilson - Chrissie Williams

Devon Sawa - Scott Wormer

Walter Sparrow - Crazy Pete

As I said in the previous section, most of the film takes place in the past which means we see very little of the big names for most of the film (or at least the big names at the time, Ricci probably demanding more than Wilson these days). The teenagers (all aged roughly 14 or 15 when they filmed) do a good job, and the supporting cast does just that – support. They blend into the background a lot of the time, but that’s better than capturing your attention all the time because their acting’s horrendous.

** Soundtrack and Setting **

I love the soundtrack probably in spite or perhaps because of the fact that I grew up after
all these songs were fist released. The songs come mainly from the 70s (the era in which the film is set) with the odd late 60s number thrown in for good measure. Works from the likes of the Monkees, Stevie Wonder and Free, plus the Jackson 5, and Diana Ross and the Supremes all put in an appearance.

The film was mainly filmed in middle America, and they found some picturesque settings to use. Sweeping hills, crystal clear lakes, immaculate dust paths (if that’s possible) and luscious green areas. A collection of towns / areas to rival Wilmington NC any day.

** Comments **

This is very much a girly version of Stand By Me (which I remember seeing in the days when Will Wheaton was one very good reason to watch Star Trek the Next Generation). I used to watch this and Clueless every school holiday for years after I got the video, and will still put it on on occasion. It’s probably the epitome of “coming of age” dramas but that’s why I like it. To sound terribly adolescent all over again, it has happy bits and sad bits, serious bits and funny bits, and is really just a good all round film for little girls. And me :-)

** Recommended **

For primary school / early secondary school sleepovers, or whole family viewing. Adults on their own would get very little out of it, I suspect, but it would be a great snuggle-up-with-your-kids-and-watch-together one. Rating below based on my thoughts for the target audience – not the adult population.

Available on DVD and VHS from most online stores and several high street ones, starting at £4.99. Or look out for it the next time it comes on TV.
 

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