Date of Release to Theaters: October 15, 1999

Date of Release to Video: Not yet.

Running Time: 92 Minutes

Rated: R (for language and brief sexuality)

Released by: Universal

Genre: Comedy; Romance; Drama

Producer: Rob Reiner; Alan Zweibel; Jessie Nelson

Executive Producer: Jeffrey Stott; Frank Capra III

Associate Producer: Tammy Glover

Writer: Alan Zweibel; Jessie Nelson

Director: Rob Reiner

Cast:

Katie Jordan: Michelle Pfeiffer

Ben Jordan: Bruce Willis

Rachel: Rita Wilson

Lisa: Julie Hagerty

Stan: Rob Reiner

Dave: Paul Reiser

Marty: Tim Matheson

Erin: Colleen Rennison

Josh: Jake Sandvig

Lillian: Betty White

Arnie: Red Buttons

Dot: Jayne Meadows

Harry: Tom Poston

Well, first off, the opening graphics of the "US" was cute and to the point…a relationship that's teetering back and forth.

"The Story of Us" is about a 15-year marriage that has gone sour. The flashbacks jump around showing us the good and bad times of Ben and Katie Jordan (Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer). Unfortunately, there's a tremendous amount of idiotic fighting. They try to keep it together for their kids, Erin and Josh (Colleen Rennison and Jake Sandvig). But, as we all know, kids are like little "psychic" machines. They pick up emotions in a house like a magnet, so hiding anything is usually futile anyway.

Their friends, Rachel (Rita Wilson), Stan (Rob Reiner), Dave (Paul Reiser) and Lisa (Julie Hagerty), all try to lend moral support throughout the movie, although they seem to be falling apart themselves. Some of what they say is right on the mark, some of it is very funny and some of it is just plain stupid.

I especially liked Rachel. She had some great lines and seemed to take Ben and Katie's breakup harder than they did. When finding out they were having marital problems, she was very upset and said that Ben and Katie were her and Stan's "Fred and Ethel Mertz." Which Katie responded, "Oh, that's funny. I thought you guys were our Fred and Ethel Mertz."

I really like Rob Reiner and greatly respect his work, so I was hoping for something better. But all of the fighting over the everyday little stupid things can really grate on your nerves. And it's somewhat painful to watch. It really wore me out. The saving grace in the whole movie was the ending...I really loved it. But does the last, great five minutes make the first 87 bearable? I don't know. If you see the movie, let me know what you think.

Grade: C

E-Mail Teri Your Thoughts! TeriCrosby@aol.com