Terms of Endearment (1983)

The film masterfully balances comedy and tragedy in a way that feels true to life. Ebert singles out Debra Winger's performance as outstanding and natural.

The film is the most completely satisfying of the year, a pungent and beautifully observed portrait of life as a fascinating, tender, hilarious and faintly absurd predicament, with a front-row seat to one of the most compelling mother-daughter relationships on screen.

The film is not perfect and meanders over 30 years but is one of the most engaging of the year, cherished for its low-pressure operation and containing possibly the best performances ever given by Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson.

The critic praises the film's clever and witty blend of comedy and emotion, highlighting Jack Nicholson's perfect fit as the retired astronaut who provides relief to the main story's angst.

The teaming of MacLaine and Nicholson at their best makes it an enormously enjoyable Christmas offering that adds bite and sparkle, though the structure is disjointed as it compresses 30 years and struggles when the leads are offscreen; Brooks' dialogue is wonderful throughout.

The film starts as an amusing family comedy but shifts into high gear with a powerful, well-acted death-bed sequence that delivers an emotional impact. It ultimately unbalances the movie, raising questions about the director's skill at overall construction despite his evident strength with emotion.

The critic finds the film overly soapy and episodic, like a TV soap opera with abrupt character appearances and disappearances, despite its box-office success and awards nominations. They highlight the central mother-daughter relationship and the daughter's cancer storyline.

The movie is a calculated, pious mix of TV-style sitcom comedy and forced emotional drama that feels fraudulent. Kael praises Debra Winger's vivid performance but criticizes the overall contrived humanity and use of tragedy.