The Bachelor (film)
Encyclopedia
The Bachelor is a 1999 romantic comedy film
directed by Gary Sinyor
. It is a remake of the 1925 film Seven Chances
and stars Chris O'Donnell
and Renée Zellweger
. The film was also the debut of R&B singer Grammy-winner Mariah Carey
as an actress.
) wants to be a mustang
for all of his life: wild, free and never tied down. Eventually, he proposes to Anne (Renée Zellweger
), his girlfriend of three years in the most romantic restaurant in town. Only he spoils the special moment with a crude approach. Anne is going to travel to Greece
for an assignment when Jimmie discovers that his grandfather James Shannon (Peter Ustinov
) has left him the family business, all his assets...and $100 million. But Jimmie can only have it if he is married by 6:05 p.m. on his 30th birthday, which just so happens to be the next day. He, his friend Marco (Artie Lange
), a priest waiting in the wings (James Cromwell
), and his grandfather's two friends and colleagues (Ed Asner
and Hal Holbrook
) must find a bride in the next few hours.
When he proposes to Anne again, she is able to see right through his facade, and leaves for Greece on a helicopter. Jimmie, unable to simply turn down the money due to the lives that would be ruined if the family business failed, selects many ex-girlfriends to ask. First is Stacey (Rebecca Cross
), a loud stockmarket player who's engaged already. Second, is Zoe (Stacy Edwards
), a clingy window dresser. When Jimmie goes to see her, he runs off after "Anne" but it is not her. He returns to see that Zoe has set a mannequin
on fire in effigy of him. Soon, the list is depleted until one accepts—the money grubbing socialite Buckley (Brooke Shields
) who wants the money for her family's business. However, she turns it down after finding out they have to have children in five years, spend only one night apart a month and they need to be married for ten years. Desperate, Marco places an ad in the newspaper with disastrous consequences. Anne did not go to Greece, she returned home and went to her parents' house with Natalie, her sister. She misses Jimmie and goes back to the city.
Meanwhile, as everyone else scrambles to help Jimmie and save the family business from a hostile corporate grudge
, Jimmie realizes the "effect" of marriage when on a rowboat on a small lake with the priest. The kindly priest only reveals how he took on the priesthood when his beloved wife died, and that he was proud to be married and produce a wonderful family in the process. Realizing that he truly loves Anne and is ready to make the next step, Jimmie decides to rest in the church and awakens to find hundreds of brides waiting for him.
After trying to settle them down, Marco lies and says that Jimmie has no money. This angers them and they try to rip the two to shreds. Marco reveals that Anne is on her way back, so Jimmie goes to the station, ordering a cake on the way. He makes it there after being chased by hundreds of brides. The taxi drops him off and he searches for Anne in the train, but she has discovered the newspaper front page saying "Would you marry this man for $100 million?" with Jimmie's picture on the front. They make up and prepare for the wedding. Someone threw their wedding dress down the stairs, so Anne is putting it on in the toilets. She opens the door to see hundreds of brides run past. Jimmie runs up the street, climbs a fire exit ladder and shouts for Anne. With the would-be brides, Marco and Jimmie's colleagues in hot pursuit, the priest then conducts the service over the police loudspeaker from inside a police car as brides attack the car. Anne convinces them to be happy and let it be her day. They cheer and everyone has cake. Marco gets a surprise when he finds his wife joined the crazy brides, but they are fine with it. The clock strikes 6:05 p.m. and all is well...until the bridal bouquet
is thrown for another couple.
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
directed by Gary Sinyor
Gary Sinyor
Gary Sinyor is an award-winning film director, producer, and writer. He was raised in a Sephardic Jewish upbringing, before going on to the National Film and Television School...
. It is a remake of the 1925 film Seven Chances
Seven Chances
Seven Chances is a 1925 American comedy silent film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, based on a play written by Roi Cooper Megrue, produced in 1916 by David Belasco. Additional casts members include T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Edwards, Ruth Dwyer, and others. The film also stars Jean Arthur, a...
and stars Chris O'Donnell
Chris O'Donnell
Christopher Eugene "Chris" O'Donnell is an American actor. He has played Robin in two Batman films, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, Charlie Simms in Scent of a Woman, Finn Dandridge in Grey's Anatomy, Peter Garrett in Vertical Limit, and more recently, Jack McAuliffe in The Company. O'Donnell...
and Renée Zellweger
Renée Zellweger
Renée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
. The film was also the debut of R&B singer Grammy-winner Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
as an actress.
Plot
Jimmie Shannon (Chris O'DonnellChris O'Donnell
Christopher Eugene "Chris" O'Donnell is an American actor. He has played Robin in two Batman films, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, Charlie Simms in Scent of a Woman, Finn Dandridge in Grey's Anatomy, Peter Garrett in Vertical Limit, and more recently, Jack McAuliffe in The Company. O'Donnell...
) wants to be a mustang
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
for all of his life: wild, free and never tied down. Eventually, he proposes to Anne (Renée Zellweger
Renée Zellweger
Renée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
), his girlfriend of three years in the most romantic restaurant in town. Only he spoils the special moment with a crude approach. Anne is going to travel to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for an assignment when Jimmie discovers that his grandfather James Shannon (Peter Ustinov
Peter Ustinov
Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
) has left him the family business, all his assets...and $100 million. But Jimmie can only have it if he is married by 6:05 p.m. on his 30th birthday, which just so happens to be the next day. He, his friend Marco (Artie Lange
Artie Lange
Arthur Steven "Artie" Lange, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and radio personality best known for his tenures with the The Howard Stern Show and the comedy sketch series MADtv....
), a priest waiting in the wings (James Cromwell
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
), and his grandfather's two friends and colleagues (Ed Asner
Ed Asner
Edward Asner , commonly known as Ed Asner, is an American film, television, stage, and voice actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild, primarily known for his Emmy Award-winning role as Lou Grant on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series, Lou Grant...
and Hal Holbrook
Hal Holbrook
Harold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Jr. is an American actor. His television roles include Abraham Lincoln in the 1976 TV series Lincoln, Hays Stowe on The Bold Ones: The Senator and Capt. Lloyd Bucher on Pueblo. He is also known for his role in the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he was nominated for...
) must find a bride in the next few hours.
When he proposes to Anne again, she is able to see right through his facade, and leaves for Greece on a helicopter. Jimmie, unable to simply turn down the money due to the lives that would be ruined if the family business failed, selects many ex-girlfriends to ask. First is Stacey (Rebecca Cross
Rebecca Cross
Rebecca Cross, is an American film, television and stage actress whose career based on her filmography was very busy between 1989 and 2000. Among her credits was a 2000 appearance on the television series Charmed, playing the ghost Charlene, an unfulfilled shade of a graduate student murdered...
), a loud stockmarket player who's engaged already. Second, is Zoe (Stacy Edwards
Stacy Edwards
Stacy Edwards is an American actress.Edwards was born in Glasgow, Montana, the daughter of Patty and Preston Edwards, who was an Air Force officer. She grew up all over the world, from Guam to Alabama. At 18, she received a scholarship to the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago and began her...
), a clingy window dresser. When Jimmie goes to see her, he runs off after "Anne" but it is not her. He returns to see that Zoe has set a mannequin
Mannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
on fire in effigy of him. Soon, the list is depleted until one accepts—the money grubbing socialite Buckley (Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
) who wants the money for her family's business. However, she turns it down after finding out they have to have children in five years, spend only one night apart a month and they need to be married for ten years. Desperate, Marco places an ad in the newspaper with disastrous consequences. Anne did not go to Greece, she returned home and went to her parents' house with Natalie, her sister. She misses Jimmie and goes back to the city.
Meanwhile, as everyone else scrambles to help Jimmie and save the family business from a hostile corporate grudge
Grudge
A grudge is something that is held against someone for something or an issue they haven't resolved peacefully or discussed.Grudge may refer to:*The Grudge, a horror film**The Grudge *The Grudge , an album by Mortiis...
, Jimmie realizes the "effect" of marriage when on a rowboat on a small lake with the priest. The kindly priest only reveals how he took on the priesthood when his beloved wife died, and that he was proud to be married and produce a wonderful family in the process. Realizing that he truly loves Anne and is ready to make the next step, Jimmie decides to rest in the church and awakens to find hundreds of brides waiting for him.
After trying to settle them down, Marco lies and says that Jimmie has no money. This angers them and they try to rip the two to shreds. Marco reveals that Anne is on her way back, so Jimmie goes to the station, ordering a cake on the way. He makes it there after being chased by hundreds of brides. The taxi drops him off and he searches for Anne in the train, but she has discovered the newspaper front page saying "Would you marry this man for $100 million?" with Jimmie's picture on the front. They make up and prepare for the wedding. Someone threw their wedding dress down the stairs, so Anne is putting it on in the toilets. She opens the door to see hundreds of brides run past. Jimmie runs up the street, climbs a fire exit ladder and shouts for Anne. With the would-be brides, Marco and Jimmie's colleagues in hot pursuit, the priest then conducts the service over the police loudspeaker from inside a police car as brides attack the car. Anne convinces them to be happy and let it be her day. They cheer and everyone has cake. Marco gets a surprise when he finds his wife joined the crazy brides, but they are fine with it. The clock strikes 6:05 p.m. and all is well...until the bridal bouquet
Flower bouquet
A flower bouquet is a collection of flowers in a creative arrangement. There are different kinds including nosegay, crescent, and cascading bouquets. Flower bouquets are often given for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. They are also used extensively in weddings. Traditionally...
is thrown for another couple.
Cast
- Chris O'DonnellChris O'DonnellChristopher Eugene "Chris" O'Donnell is an American actor. He has played Robin in two Batman films, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, Charlie Simms in Scent of a Woman, Finn Dandridge in Grey's Anatomy, Peter Garrett in Vertical Limit, and more recently, Jack McAuliffe in The Company. O'Donnell...
- Jimmie Shannon - Renée ZellwegerRenée ZellwegerRenée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
- Anne Arden - Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
- Ilana - Artie LangeArtie LangeArthur Steven "Artie" Lange, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and radio personality best known for his tenures with the The Howard Stern Show and the comedy sketch series MADtv....
- Marco - Edward Asner - Sid Gluckman
- Hal HolbrookHal HolbrookHarold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Jr. is an American actor. His television roles include Abraham Lincoln in the 1976 TV series Lincoln, Hays Stowe on The Bold Ones: The Senator and Capt. Lloyd Bucher on Pueblo. He is also known for his role in the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he was nominated for...
- Roy O'Dell - James CromwellJames CromwellJames Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
- The Priest - Marley SheltonMarley SheltonMarley Eve Shelton is an American film and television actress.Shelton began her acting career in her late teens, and appeared in several 1990s' television movies and shows. She made her film debut in the critically acclaimed drama Grand Canyon , and was cast in the films The Sandlot , Nixon , and...
- Natalie Arden - Peter UstinovPeter UstinovPeter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
- Grandad James Shannon - Katharine TowneKatharine TowneKatharine Payne Towne is an American actress.Towne was born in Hollywood, California, the daughter of actress Julie Payne and Robert Towne, an Oscar-winning screenwriter, director, and actor....
- Monique - Rebecca CrossRebecca CrossRebecca Cross, is an American film, television and stage actress whose career based on her filmography was very busy between 1989 and 2000. Among her credits was a 2000 appearance on the television series Charmed, playing the ghost Charlene, an unfulfilled shade of a graduate student murdered...
- Stacey - Stacy EdwardsStacy EdwardsStacy Edwards is an American actress.Edwards was born in Glasgow, Montana, the daughter of Patty and Preston Edwards, who was an Air Force officer. She grew up all over the world, from Guam to Alabama. At 18, she received a scholarship to the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago and began her...
- Zoe - Sarah SilvermanSarah SilvermanSarah Kate Silverman is a Jewish American comedian, writer, actress, singer and musician. Her satirical comedy addresses social taboos and controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and religion....
- Carolyn - Jennifer EspositoJennifer EspositoJennifer Esposito is an American actress, dancer and model, known for her appearances in films such as I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Summer of Sam and Crash and in television series such as Spin City, The Looney Tunes Show and Samantha Who?.-Early life:Esposito, an Italian-American, was...
- Daphne - Brooke ShieldsBrooke ShieldsBrooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
- Buckley Hale-Windsor - Anastasia HorneAnastasia HorneAnastasia Horne is an American actress/singer who has appeared on television and in the theater. Her last television role was "Lori" on the MTV series Undressed. She also starred as "Lark Madison-Scanlon" on the daytime soap opera Port Charles from 1997 to 1999...
- Peppy Boor - Pat FinnPat Finn (actor)Pat Finn is an American film and television actor.He has guest-starred in numerous television series, notably Friends, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Seinfeld, The King of Queens, That '70s Show, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Wizards of Waverly Place, House and other series...
- Bolt