Original and Remake: Yours Mine and Ours

After a couple of months of not posting Original and Remake due to the holidays, it's back. January's Original and Remake is Yours Mine and Ours. It it loosely based on the book Who Gets the Drumstick? by Frank and Helen Beardsley. There are two film versions, the original from 1968 and the remake from 2005. 

Yours Mine and Ours (1968)

Directed By: Melville Shavelson

Starring: Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Tim Matheson

Running Time: 111 Minutes

Yours Mine and Ours (2005)

Directed By: Raja Gosnell

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, Miranda Cosgrove

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Neither of these movies are cinematic masterpieces but once in a while you need a fun, silly movie to watch out of all the seriousness that's life.  Out of the two, I'd suggest the original, not only does is star an actual comedienne in a comedy role but the movie isn't full of gross gags or silly humor. Actually, despite his role to playing more dramatic and serious roles, Henry Fonda was quite good in comedy, also see, Sex and the Single Girl (1964). Lucille and Henry have chemistry, the kids are cute enough, a young Tim Matheson stars as Frank's son, Mike and the supporting cast includes Van Johnson and Tom Bosley. Critic Leonard Maltin critiqued the film as "wholesome family picture" and I have to agree, it's very clean and if I might say so it's almost like a 3 part episode of The Brady Bunch. The remake is packed full of kid-humor and I will say if you are a kid or have an immature sense of humor you'll probably enjoy this movie more. I also feel that Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo lack chemistry, it's lukewarm. Many of the kids in the cast still have acting careers today, Miranda Cosgrove and Danielle Panabaker probably being most noticeable. I will say the kids aren't all white, so it's nice to see a little diversity in this version. The original stays closer to the book and the remake strays further away. So my pick is the original 1968 version. 

Until Next Time,

Ashley A.