Dancing at the Harvest Moon (2002 TV Movie) User Reviews

Where can I find Eric Mabius?

[darbruing · 7/10 · 10 September 2005]

Quite an enjoyable film, showing that some young men are mature and smart enough to fall in love with an "older" woman. I really enjoyed the pretense, but felt that Jacqueline must have been as much uncomfortable with embracing and kissing Eric as her character, Maggie was. Eric, on the other hand, seemed to have no problems at all with the chemistry that he was portraying towards Maggie, as John. Some of you who think this type of story is fantasy should read what Andy Rooney has said about relationships with "older" women. ;-) Sure hope to see much more of Eric Mabius in the very near future!!!! Wouldn't mind seeing him at my front door either!

Read the Book instead!

[green clover · 5/10 · 21 October 2002]

I was so excited when I saw that the book "Dancing at the Harvest Moon" was being made for tv. When I first read the book I immediately loved it. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with the tv version. The people who made it just couldn't capture the greatness of the book. If you even remotely liked the tv movie...Read the book it's a million times better.

TV Movie Fare

[guyb · 4/10 · 21 October 2002]

Jacky Bisset did her best and I enjoyed her performance very much. However, TV movies are just what they are: boring pulp. Just pass this one by. The script was pretty poor too. Why on earth would a young boy blow his life by marring a 50-something woman? Most of the woman complaints I hear are that the guys won't even commit to a woman their own age!!!

Bisset's cougar matinée

[Chase_Witherspoon · 3/10 · 8 May 2011]

Jacqui Bisset even at 58 still projects a vixen quality that belies her obvious maturity, here she has the opportunity to showcase her age as her asset and integral to the storyline, but ultimately, the plot is thin, the characters and situations clichéd and un-involving. She plays a woman scorned by philandering husband (Mancuso) and elects to take a trip back through memory lane to a place in which she worked briefly some thirty years earlier, and where she had a brief but torrid liaison with a man named Patrick. Patrick has since both married and died, but his son (Mabius) is a tangible reminder of her brief encounter with Patrick (but not her progeny - it's not that kind of movie) and serves to vicariously rekindle the flame she shared with his late father.

It's a little disconcerting watching the two engage in the lovey-dovey dialogue and passionate embraces, the kisses looking anything but intimate. There's this whole 'Danielle Steele' quality to the movie that holds it back from the mature, poignant tale it aims to be, although Bisset at least gives an apparently sincere performance in a complex characterisation that exhibits conflicted emotions and motivations. Despite the fact her character is criticised, ostracised and made to feel 'trashy' by townsfolk concerned for Mabius' character's welfare, Bisset never becomes a tragic figure, retaining dignity even despite the lame dialogue and clichéd situations.

TV movie of mediocre quality, elevated marginally by the star presence of Bisset ought to appeal to those looking for the TV cousin (and predecessor) of "Under the Tuscan Sun", or just those who remain enamoured by the evergreen Bisset.

Not as good as the novel, but pretty darn GOOD!

[AvidFilmLover · 3 December 2002]

I knew I wouldn't like the film as much as the novel, which was so intelligently written. But other than the fact that the casting was somewhat off (in the book, the age difference is not so very noticeable and the relationship is much more believable) I have to say I was glued to the screen. I admit there were some lame lines of dialogue that the author of the novel wouldn't have written, but it was just so good to see a smart and intelligent film (my God, they quoted Yeats!) on TV that I loved it. And Jacqueline Bisset just gets more beautiful and talented as time goes on. We need more roles like this one for actresses over forty.

What a waste of a good story!

[enije · 1/10 · 22 November 2013]

I am totally in the right age segment for this kind of movie. 40+ and very happy to be convinced that a woman can still be appealing to a 25 year old man. This story could have been great! It had all the right ingredients: Young handsome, fit and energetic man ditches pretty same age girlfriend for a forty something divorcée. But this movie messes the story up completely for one simple reason, Jaqueline Bisset. How on earth are we to believe that John would fall for her? She is supposed to have been in love with his dad at the age of 18, which is twenty something years ago and would therefore be in her forties. But she looks so old! At old older than 45 and more like the 60 odd years, she actually is. Not only does she not look the part, she has apparently lost all ability to act. I dare say the producer could have easily saved her salary and instead have had an extra walk around with a cardboard cut out playing a metallic tape recorder robot voice - and done a better job. She is so stiff and passionless, that I cannot for the love of anything see how anyone would feel the quandary of whether it is love or just sexual attraction. When they kiss, it looks like a kid kissing a grandmother without an ounce of tension or passion. Well she could be his grandmother, so that is probably why. I had to look away during some of the romantic scenes - it was that awkward and inappropriate.

I am so sad they did not make more of this, getting a great mature actress to play the part. It had all the elements to become a favorite, but it failed badly.

Do not watch this, even if you get it for free. It is horrible.

Not a good dance!

[gazineo-1 · 4/10 · 22 January 2004]

Unimpressive, dull and sometimes pretensious TV movie about a middle aged woman (Bisset) who discovered that his old time husband (Mancuso) is betraying her with a young secretary; after the discovery, the poor wife goes back to the city where she lives when she was a teenager justo to reopen an old and decayed ballroom. This movie could be a good chance to discuss with more sharpness the anguish, troubles and fantasies of a feminine soul - especially after a marriage breakup - but unfortunately misses the point and is just a routine and unconvincing love story, narrated like a classic and old-fashioned soap opera. I give this a 4 (four).

Central character is trying to recapture a past time in her life.

[esolis20041 · 10/10 · 12 November 2005]

Beautifully executed script. My only complaint was that Jackie Bissett's accent was not explained and, as in the case of another watcher, I agreed 100% that whereas Eric Mabius was perfect in his role and totally comfortable in his/John's character being in love with an older woman, even to the end of the film, Jackie B. (who had plenty of experience in this situation as in "Rich and Famous") did not seem comfortable in return. This, beyond the fact that her character had been fleetingly in love with John's father over 25 years before. This was a beautiful story and I will seek out the book by Kinnon. Embarrassed to say that since I am in the same place now that Maggie was in the film, I teared through the entire film. Eric Mabius' powerful and perfect performance is in part responsible for my high grade. He was able to continue his character's persona created by another actor as his father giving the same passionate human flavor that a son would have who was very like his father. Beautiful!

Hmmm

[TrooLoo · 4/10 · 10 September 2008]

Not the worst film I've ever seen, but certainly not the best! I felt that the central character's accent should have been explained. Was Maggie British in the book? If not, Bissent should have just put on an American accent as this just didn't make sense.

Some of the performances were pretty good and carried the film, but to be honest, I was left wondering why I bothered to spend time watching the whole thing.

Well, apparently I have to write 10 lines for this review to be accepted! Which just seems a bit silly. Especially as the film didn't inspire me enough to write 10 lines! How many is this? Lets see if this is better...

romance. and nothing else

[Vincentiu · 31 May 2015]

almost creepy. not the best option for Eric Mabius as John Flemming. one of many sweet stories about the young prince and not very young princess. it is only a comfortable story in Hallmark style. nothing new, nothing complicated, nothing interesting. only he and she and the people around theme. so, not good or bad. only another occasion for Jacqueline Bisset to act old role who defines her. only strange fact is the status of son of first boyfriend of Maggie Webber for the young Flemming. it is strange and unrealistic. and, sure, far to be real moral. but it could be only an insignificant detail. a film for the fans of genre. and that is all.

It's a hot day here, the remote has been misplaced so.....

[cassandra2006 · 4/10 · 21 January 2019]

This turned up here today on tv at midday. Lovely locations and some examples of beautiful domestic architecture, at least IMO. Some good music. A stereotypical plot. A serviceable script with some angsty drama. A Late Summer and Spring love affair. Jacqueline Bisset, looking as effortlessly elegant and beautiful as always, did well with what she had to deal with. Several other good character actors in the cast as well.. That's all I can usefully say, really. As I indicated, it IS very hot here and leaving this movie on rather than forcing myself to go on a hunt for the remote was rather an exercise in taking the line of least resistance.

Risible chick movie

[jplatten · 1/10 · 19 September 2006]

I ticked the spoiler box... The spoiler is - Don't watch this! It's devoid of all merit. (With deep thanks to my wife who is watching it avidly right now and inflicting the movie on me. Surely I had something more important to do - like belching or sorting navel lint collection). Budge over and pass me the remote woman! Guys .....run if this film ever comes on and don't look back. Chick flick with a vengeance. Yuck.

I did like the comment from someone else about guys not committing to women even their own age. You can see what the female character's going to get out of it however much they dress it up. But the male character. Heh heh heh - his role is just mind numbingly unbelievable as they've put words in his mouth like he's really into this whole wishy washy trip. Doesn't he have any mates to slap him round the chops and drag him down the bar? Jeeeez. Wize up wuss. Going with older women fine. Being that much of an ever loving dreamboat? Please make it stop. (Oh it did - lol just then when I was typing - thank god, now what's on the other side).

Heh postscript. My wife just finished watching the whole thing then stretched got up and said "God what a load of rubbish - why did I watch that".

A nice romantic movie.

[Royalsmile-1 · 8/10 · 21 July 2007]

This was a perfect movie for a group of middle aged women to watch on a cold snowy day at the cottage. I have always enjoyed Jacqueline Bisset's movies. I think Bobby Roth did a decent job directing this film. I will certainly read the book now. I think many of us can put ourselves in Jackie's shoes. Your marriage is failing apart because of the actions of the man you love so much and then a handsome, enjoyable, younger man comes along and admires you as a beautiful woman inside and out. I would definitely recommend this to other women to view or read. Can anyone tell me where I might be able to buy this movie? I have searched everywhere and just can't seem to find it.

I enjoyed it

[magickchicken · 8/10 · 10 March 2014]

I really enjoyed this movie! The characters were believable and well- acted. And Eric Mabius - what a hunk! Seriously, whoever did the cover to this movie needs to go back to photography school - they didn't do him justice at all.

For people who found it boring, I believe it's because they expected the movie to be only about the romance between the two leads. However, it is about more than just the romance - it's about the heroine taking her life back after she gets cheated on by her husband. So there is romance, but there are plenty of scenes without him in it, as well.

The only things I would complain about is that I think 58 was too old for the heroine, and it wasn't really explained why he liked her. I was thinking more of like a Sandra Bullock, who is now 50 but looks 40 and could look closer in age to Eric. Maybe its the fact that, although Eric was 31 at the time, he looked a lot younger. And I wish I could have seen the attraction more from his perspective. He does an amazing job of showing the chemistry, but she doesn't particularly exude chemistry in return - so I'm wondering why he liked her so much. Guess I have to read the book now!

Jacqueline Bisset knows how to carry her own (-and then some)

[graceoverpressuretheoneANDonly · 8/10 · 22 June 2022]

Very interesting if not provocative plot as we are inundated with "May-Dec" romances in Hollywood, but generally, with an older man/younger woman scenario. This was refreshing with a most pleasant plot if not totally believable. I felt the acting was very good for the most part - Eric Mabius did a nice job of partnering in love with Jacqueline though not quite as convincing as I thought he could have been. I believe many are short-sighted when it comes to love...Their stereotype expectations do not live anywhere but in a "box" for them and thus being able to grasp love at a different level that ISN'T "built" on chronological age, is all but impossible for them. Pity. Ms. Bisset is a fine British actress with MANY credits to her name and shows us once again, the heart and soul of being a woman whose sense of self is encompassed by her natural beauty.

Enjoyable. Heartfelt. Meaningful & thought provoking. Methinks there are many critics out there who will not agree. Again, a pity.

Something is missing

[pambarvan · 10/10 · 21 October 2002]

I would like to comment that I relish the book Dancing at the Harvest Moon. I have been waiting a long time wondering if anyone would make a movie of the book. I think the movie is superb except for one detail. I did not hear Neil Young singing the song Harvest Moon. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this excellent book and movie to me they are treasures. Thank you, Pamela Van Dyke

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 23 June 2016]

a pink movie like too many others. clichés, same rules of an impossible love story, links with the past and the second youth. few drops of drama and a good actress as axis of a mediocre story. so, the good thing is the conclusion after its end. because, obvious, it is not so bad. decent solutions of script for few confuse details and the desire of Jaquelline Bisset to use each possibility of credibility for her character are the good points. the bad thing could be Eric Mabius who is real uncomfortable in a role who pretend not very much from his actor. but the result is OK , in part because it is the expected one. nothing surprises. few beautiful scenes. and a nice film about the second chance and the true love.