Marley Shelton Movie:

				Salesrank: 287355
		Used Price: $24.89
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
The Bachelor got critically slammed when it played in theaters, probably because reviewers couldn't help comparing it with the movie on which it's based, the brilliant Buster Keaton comedy Seven Chances. But on its own terms, The Bachelor is a modest and enjoyable picture about Jimmie (Chris O'Donnell), a happily single young man who suddenly gets an ultimatum from his grandfather's will: marry by his 30th birthday or lose an inheritance of $100 million. This is revealed the day before that very birthday. Unfortunately, Jimmie had already proposed to his girlfriend Anne (Renee Zellweger) and been turned down; she can see in his eyes that he isn't ready to get married and refuses to accept him until he is. So Jimmie needs to find a bride--fast. Though the commitment-shy man is a hoary cliché, The Bachelor successfully exaggerates Jimmie's fears to comic proportions. O'Donnell is his usual affable self, but it's Zellweger who seizes every scene she's in and makes something really enjoyable out it. The movie's greatest weakness is that she's such a small part of the second half. Still, there's good supporting performances from Hal Holbrook, Ed Asner, James Cromwell, and Marley Shelton (as Zellweger's sister), and Peter Ustinov and Brooke Shields both have very funny scenes. The Bachelor skirts some dangerously chauvinistic territory at times, but by and large it's a pleasant comedy with some genuine good humor. --Bret Fetzer

The Bachelor [Region 2] Reviews:
Wonderful, fun-filled movie-definitely worth the watch
2009-10-05 - I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I saw it years ago and liked it then. But I was seeking for some relief from all the gloomy movies out now, not to mention that a lot of the recent romantic comedies have been total bombs. So I decided to watch it again. I truly enjoyed it. I think there is still a lot that can be done with romantic comedies that hasn't been done yet because for some reason, everyone seems to be so into duplicating what's all ready been presented. That being said, I like the whole metaphor of the stallions, the journey into Jimmie's past relationships, seeing Ed Asner and Hal Holbrook together. If you want to watch a romantic comedy for the enjoyment of it and not to criticize and compare it to other movies, I would recommend this picture. I think Chris O'Donnell did some of his best acting in this movie, and Renee Zellweger is one of my favorite actresses.

Happy
2009-09-19 - I purchased this for my mother and she highly enjoyed it. It came in great condition and in a timely matter.

1 star or less
2009-03-23 - Don't watch this movie. It's simply so stupid that nothing can save it from itself. and it is as bad as the other 1 star reviews say. (I will mention the one highlight, Brook Shields later.) A point I'd like to raise is that the movie is nauseatingly sexist. I'm pleasantly amazed by what a long way we've come since 1999. The premise is that men want to roam free like mustangs, whereas women want to lasso them as if they had no life, other than to get married, and as if men had no purpose other than, well, what? Oh, to compulsively chase after women. This is what I don't get about this idea: How do we square men, "free as mustangs" with men in the thrall of women-chasing? How free are you, if you are driven like that? This could have been funny if it had been dark. That would have required different actors, screen writer and director. This plot idea gets irreparably muddled with another plot idea, that the lead has to marry immediately in order to come into his inheritance. What a mess. I've yet to see a re-make that works. This story might have been OK with Buster Keaton in the original. I haven't seen it. It's hard, or perhaps impossible to update social commentary, which this movie desperately attempt and fails.
I paid 50 cents for it in a yard sale. But the really good thing is that I was working on a large Photoshop file that took a long time load every time I "saved," or "transformed." It gave me something to keep me from getting impatient. I was also able to fast-forward through the worst scenes. Great feature, that. As to Brook Shields. I've never seen her better. It's astounding how much an actor can do in a small scene that one would think offers nothing to bite into. I was delighted with the film for the entire duration of her scene. If I were a director I would want to make a movie built just around the character of Buckley as played Shields. She was brilliant!

The Reluctant Groom
2008-12-23 - When "The Bachelor" was released in the theatres, it was a feel-good favorite; so when I saw the DVD in the $4 budget bin, I decided to have walk down Cinematic Memory Lane. Chris O'Donnell has been in The Sisters, Kinsey & received a Golden Globe supporting actor nomination for Scent of a Woman. As Jimmy Shannon who is given a day to get married before he turns 30 or lose a huge inheritance, he's delightful as the reluctant groom. His grandfather is played as a cranky hard-of-hearing geezer by Peter Ustinov who would later pass away in 2004. Ustinov won two supporting actor Oscars for Spartacus in 1960 & Topkapi in 1965. Renee Zellweger who won her supporting actress Oscar for Cold Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) plays Ann, Jimmy's girlfriend. When Jimmy botches his proposal to Ann, he sets on a wild goose chase to secure a bride. James Cromwell, from TV's "24" & "Six Feet Under" who also has a supporting Oscar nomination for "Babe" in 1995, plays the long-faced priest who follows Jimmy's every move. Hal Holbrook plays O'Dell who tries to assist Jimmy. Holbrook had his first Oscar nomination for Into the Wild in 2007. Among the ill-fated fiancees is Maria Carey as the operatic Ilana who barely remembers Jimmy. Brooke Shields plays Buckley for laughs as the superficial society-climbing golddigger. Shields would also play in director Gary Sinyor's next film "Bob the Butler." Jennifer Esposito who was in the Oscar winner Crash (Widescreen Edition) plays policewoman Daphne. Also memorable is Maree Cheatham as the enamored Aunt of Ann, Mona Arden, who has a hard time keeping her hands off her aging spouse. The scene with O'Donnell chased by a stampede of brides is hilarious. It builds to the wonderfully romantic conclusion. Enjoy!

Edited Version
2008-12-07 - Although I enjoyed this movie, I did not enjoy the version I received. The DVD that I received has certain words substituted, so that the actors are clearly saying words other than what you hear on the audio -- this turns the movie into a "G" rated production rather than a grown up movie. I found nothing in the product description to indicate that a true theatrical version was available as opposed to the edited version.