This film was a very close remake of an earlier French film 3 Hommes et un Couffin (3 Men and a Cradle) in which three single men are presented with the fruits of the loins of one of them. The Hollywood version was directed by none other than Leonard Nimoy who boldly goes about his task of bringing the film alive.
The essence of the film is the same as the original and as it is a simple idea stretched to an hour and a half you do get the overall impression of gilding the lily or more accurately labouring the point. Much of the action takes place in the bachelor flat which limits things also and by the end you feel you know the situation backwards. It is though cutesy good fun and all but the stone hearted among us would not find it reasonably appealing. There is an inevitability about the jokes on bodily functions but those of us who have had young children will nod knowingly at this situation. What adds to the humour is the context of it with the three confirmed bachelors.
The bachelors are played by Tom Selleck who is a successful architect who retains his cool manly charm before melting at the thought of the baby Mary. Former Cheers star Ted Danson shows a nice turn in his personality for self obsessed and charmless womaniser to sensible and responsible parent. Steve Guttenberg, who always seems the support rather than the star, plays the wacky slightly mad flatmate whose responses are always the wildest.
Nancy Travis appears as the babys mother Sylvia which neatly sets up the sequel Three Men and A Little Lady which has a little more story to it as the film has more scope once the babys view on the relationship can become known.
Three Men and A Baby though is a mushy sentimental feel-good film which is very well made and funny without being hilarious. It is well written and the stars all do just enough to be credible without having to bust a gut acting. The three stars are more famously known for their television work and this film could have worked just as well on the small screen. A film worth having in the video collection for when you have got older relatives visiting.
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