THE WORK OF NEIL SIMON IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE FOR SOME. MANY LOVE SIMON'S PLAYS AND OTHERS HAVE MANY RESERVATIONS. I GUESS I FALL IN THE LATTER GROUP, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF HIS WORKS FOR WHICH I HAVE A SPECIAL AFFECTION AND MAX DUGAN RETURNS IS ONE OF THEM. IT IS ONE OF SIMON'S LESSER KNOWN WORKS, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH HAVE MADE IT TO FILM. SIMON WAS MARRIED FOR A TIME TO THE VERY GOOD ACTRESS, MARSHA MASON, AND HE WROTE A LOT OF MATERIAL JUST FOR HER OF WHICH THIS IS A SHINNING EXAMPLE. MASON PLAYS A BELEAGUERED SINGLE MOM /SCHOOL TEACHER, WHO IS TRYING--NOT OVERLY SUCCESSFULLY TO COPE WITH LIFE AND A TEENAGE SON. RE-ENTER HER FATHER, MAX DUGAN, WHOM SHE LONG THOUGHT DEAD; AND TO COMPLICATE MATTERS A LOT, DUGAN IS ON THE RUN WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF STOLEN CASH. HE IS ALSO DYING. THIS MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A PLOT RIPE FOR COMEDY AND ONE-LINERS, BUT SIMON MANAGES IT AND DOES IT WELL KEEPING MUCH OF HIS SOMETIME LETHAL, TREACLY SENTIMENTALITY AT BAY FOR MUCH OF THE PROCEEDINGS. JASON ROBARDS IS WONDERFUL IN THE LEAD AND MATTHEW BRODERICK--VERY EARLY IN HIS CAREER--IS THE CONFUSED, BUT VERY BRIGHT TEENAGER. ADD DONALD SUTHERLAND AS A SMART DETECTIVE WHO FALLS FOR MARSHA AND YOU HAVE A PREDICTABLE, BUT STILL VERY ENJOYABLE LIGHT COMEDY THAT ONLY THE HARDEST OF HEARTS WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST.
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