Another turkey from executive producer Elliott Kastner, the American-born dealmaker who spends much of his time in England. Director-writer McGuane had two of his novels done by other directors and didn't like the way they turned out (they were THE SPORTING CLUB, directed by Larry Peerce,
and RANCHO DELUXE, directed by Arthur Penn), so he decided to do this one himself. Perhaps novelist McGuane is better read than seen, because this one turned out no better than those. It's an aimless character piece that starts out going nowhere and ends up having been there. Fonda is a drifter
who comes home to Key West after years of travel. He plans to be a fishing guide for the wealthy easterners who come south looking for marlins and a tan they can brag about over dinner at Lutece. His whacked-out parents, Latham and Hickey, pay little attention to his return, as she's too busy
tending her flowers, and he won't get off the veranda, preferring to sit under the mosquito netting and whine about the way the world has deteriorated. Meredith is Fonda's randy old grandfather, a rich eccentric, who spends most of his time in bed with his private secretary, Miles. Fonda wants
some peace in his life, but local guide Oates and his buddy Stanton don't think the fishing business has room for another man, so they do everything they can to get him out, including filching Fonda's clients and telling him to beware of Oates's allegedly violent ways. Fonda won't buckle under to
their threats and retaliates by placing an explosive device in Oates's boat, which is destroyed in the resulting blast and fire. Fonda talks Meredith into lending him enough cash to get a plush craft, while Oates has to make do with an old scow he buys with his last few dollars. By this time Fonda
has established a relationship with Kidder, a local teacher, and she defends him in a battle with Ashley, the dingbat, pregnant wife of Stanton. The fight between the two women has a calming effect on the men, and they back off from each other for the time being. Kidder wishes Fonda would stay
away from Oates, as she thinks Oates is capable of killing her lover. Hickey tries to convince Fonda that it's not worth all the effort, but Fonda is determined to make a success out of his venture. Spinell arrives and charters Fonda's boat. They sail out where Oates, wielding a gun, comes up
alongside and threatens Fonda's life. Fonda goes for Oates and the two men fight as the boats move closer to shore in the tide. Spinell jumps out of Fonda's boat and makes his way to shore while the men struggle for control of the firearm. The fight ends and the two men stare at each other.
Neither wins, but they both begin laughing, as they realize the ocean is big enough for both of them to make a living.
McGuane and Ashley fell in love for a while off the set, but that was as brief as his directorial career. The picture originally ended with Oates firing at Fonda and, presumably, killing him, but audiences at previews must have objected, and they changed the conclusion to offer some hope for the
characters. For all the supposed emotion, the picture is so understated that we never feel blood boiling, and the result is a movie that never ignites. The language is very graphic, unnecessarily so most of the time, so if you're watching it on cable, put earmuffs on the tykes. leave a comment