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Shaking the Tree (1990)

Director: Duane Clark

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From Time Out Film Guide

Four old high school buddies now face the '90s with mounting dread. The marital and extra-marital agonies, late adolescent angst attacks, flirtations with low life: Clark's film could almost be 'Diner: The Next Generation'. Michael (Savant) is wondering whether his wife will produce a baby before he produces his novel; nerdish power broker Barry (Gross) can't stop kvetching about his wife's sexual history; amiable ex-boxer Duke (Wilde) is having trouble Relating to Daddy; and Sully (Hansen), a rich kid, likes to live seedy. For the first half-hour, the film just about overcomes its limitations by fielding sound acting, promising characterisations, and a winning sense of place (this is a Chicago movie and proud of it). But having told their menfolk 'We need to talk' once too often, the women vanish into the background, while the guys embark on a dreary, mechanical round of griping, barroom buddying, and nick-of-time problem solving.

Author: JRo 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Duane Clark

Producer: Robert J Wilson

Cast: Arye Gross, Gale Hansen, Doug Savant, Steven Wilde, Courteney Cox, Christina Haag full cast

Duration: 107 mins


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