MovieChat Forums > Beautiful Girls (1996) Discussion > Big age gap on lead character and other ...

Big age gap on lead character and other fumbles

posted 12 years ago by MoDo12
26 replies | jump to latest

In the movie Hutton says he's 29, but at the time of filming he was actually 36 years old (and 52 as I write this!). He played a PERFECT role... but 29? Seriously, C'mon.

I don't think anyone really cares because they just assume this movie is about a bunch of guys in their mid-late 30's...but its actually supposed to be about a group of people in their late 20's....which is a massive difference.

Also, a broke piano player that doesn't own a car, is somehow with a gorgeous and successful lawyer? That would NEVER - EVER happen.

Love the movie, just thought I'd point that out.

[–] balboa76 12 years ago

I agree with your point on the gorgeous lawyer, but a lot of women might go for him because he has talent and they may think he just needs the opportunity to be discovered, over time if his career doesn't happen there going to want him to get a real career or dump him. That could be the story line for the sequel lol

[–] shawneuser 12 years ago

This post is idiotic. Sorry.

Actors play characters of a different age all the time. Some one who is 36 can easily play a 29 year old.

Lots of people who live in big cities don't own cars. He was a piano player from the city. No surprise he wouldn't have a car.

Good looking guy. Decent musician. He could easily net some lawyer babe.

[–] enovalis 12 years ago

btw, she's only a 7.5-looking lawyer... i work with lawyers much prettier and more successful than your "gorgeous lawyer" who have done far worse in real life long term bf's. oh, and yes, i live in New York City.

[–] MoDo12 12 years ago

I believe my message struck a nerve with a couple broke piano players that do not own vehicles lol.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Naughty-God 12 years ago

I see your point about Hutton not looking his age (28) in this, but he's not the only actor who is much older than his age professes. Practically every other actor was already past 30 and they looked it.

That being said, the strength of the story and the writing make you forget that transgression (which is noticeable). I don't get your quip about him being "broke". I don't remember him saying he was, but as for his profession and his fiance's profession you'd be surprised how many pairings like that exist in real life. It's not that unusual.

(¯`i´¯)´·¸.)‹^›

[–] Zando777 11 years ago

It's actually highly unusual for successful women to be with loser guys. She is beautiful, closer to a 9 than a 7.5. And much hotter than uggo uma thurman. And much hotter than hutton. Who is a broke dinner piano player.

And yeah, the ages are ridiculous. More credible as a 20 yr reunion. At most 15. As for people being cast for age-inappropriate roles, its called "miscasting."

Good film, but some major flaws. Especially hutton being too dumb to realize his gf was much hotter than him or uma.

[–] Naughty-God 11 years ago

It's actually highly unusual for successful women to be with loser guys. She is beautiful, closer to a 9 than a 7.5. And much hotter than uggo uma thurman. And much hotter than hutton. Who is a broke dinner piano player.

Where are you getting this conclusion that Timothy Hutton is a "loser guy"? Also, just because you think Annabeth Gish is a 9 doesn't mean everyone else does. She also doesn't portray herself as a "babe" in the film and is more modest in her demeanor than what you and the OP imply.

And yeah, the ages are ridiculous. More credible as a 20 yr reunion. At most 15. As for people being cast for age-inappropriate roles, its called "miscasting."

I don't feel the age differences means that the film was miscast, because their performances save the discrepancy of that minor detail.

Good film, but some major flaws. Especially hutton being too dumb to realize his gf was much hotter than him or uma.

This movie isn't about a man realizing whether or not he's not attractive enough to his fiance. Way to miss the film's major themes. Furthermore, many successful career women end up marrying men who are complete opposites of themselves. My neighbor's wife is a district attorney and he's a public middle school P.E. teacher/coach. She makes three times what he does but they're happily married 15+ years now. Btw, I though Uma looked really hot in this film and her role as the "babe" worked really well.

[–] GirlwonderReturns 10 years ago

Considering the film was released in February and his birthday is in August, he was 35 at most - and possibly still 34 - when it was filmed, and they state that his character is supposed to be 29. Really not that big a gap when you consider that 25-year-old Judd Nelson played 17 in the Breakfast Club, or that Sissy Spacek was 27 when she played a 16-year-old in Carrie. Actors are not always the same age as their characters - it's called acting. As for Hutton being ugly, I knew him a little around the time this movie came out - he lived locally and we frequented the same local bar - and he was strikingly handsome in person, with eyes so blue it was startling. So "ugly" is an exceptionally strong word. And as far as Gish being hotter than Thurman - utterly, completely subjective. They're both beautiful women, it's all a matter of personal taste.

Saying "I apologize" is the same as saying "I'm sorry." Except at a funeral.

[–] daughterofolaf 9 years ago

Completely agree--Timothy Hutton is NOT ugly. I have always thought he was really cute. I suppose it is all a matter of opinion but I think he is very attractive.

"Why couldn't the monkey arrange this from INSIDE the garbage can?"

[–] tonybny 11 years ago

I always thought of the movie as St. Elmo's Fire, only set in a small, quaint, wintry town.

[–] UN_Jefferson 11 years ago

The casting was a little off, Rosie O'Donnel was like 50 when this was filmed.

Also, what class reunion is in December? They are always in the summer, always.

[–] bhilburn 11 years ago

My class reunion was in October.

"check the imdb cast list before asking who portrayed who in movies please"

[–] RobSac 10 years ago

I think there was a chronological goof in the writing as to what time of year the story's set. Andera says to Willie at the bar that pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in 2 months, which places them at around Christmas. But at the drug store where Rosie O Donnell is lecturing Willie and Birdman about fake women, etc., you can see the Valentines Day decorations everywhere.

[–] GirlwonderReturns 9 years ago

Rosie O'Donnell was 33 in this movie. She is younger than Timothy Hutton and Pruitt Taylor Vince (Stinky). The ages of the actors were all over the place in this film. Michael Rapaport, Max Perlich and Martha Plimpton were all younger than their characters, while Hutton, Dillon, Emmerich, Holly, O'Donnell and Vince are all older. The only ones who were actually the same ages as their characters were Mira Sorvino and Anne Bobby (who played Mo's wife Sarah). Rapaport and Hutton were playing the same age despite a ten-year age gap in real life!

The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.

[–] RobSac 10 years ago

Different generation. The 29 year old of today is not the 29 year old of 1996. People in their late 20s in the 90s acted a lot more like they were in their 30's.

[–] GirlwonderReturns 8 years ago

People in their late 20s in the 90s acted a lot more like they were in their 30's.

No idea where you get this from. My three oldest siblings were all in their late 20's in the 90's and they were all youthful and liked having fun. My sister is 11 years older than me and from the time I was 18 or so she was taking me to parties - then to bars once I turned 21. And my brothers were both musicians in a local band and did plenty of drinking and partying at gigs.

The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.

[–] tallkennj 9 years ago

Puh-lease. If he'd been playing a teenager, yeah, it would be a problem. He was a 36-year-old playing a 29-year-old. There were most definitely a few "hmmmm" moments in the movie. Timothy Hutton's age was not one of them.

As for your second point, you are kidding yourself. People like who they like. Many, MANY women LOVE the bohemian musician vibe. Talk to any rock star. They will all tell you they were getting women... beautiful, amazing women.... LONGGGGGG before they made any money or had any success.