Harry & Son

Whatever Newman and co-author Ronald L. Buck were trying to say about the frustrations and fears of growing old and the chasms of the generation gap have been undercut by an assortment of characters who don't seem to exist in the real world.

The result is a curiously indigestible phenomenon, like being forced to eat five courses of avocado by an overbearing dinner-party host.

Some fine actors, such as Joanne Woodward and Ellen Barkin, are abused by the script. Others, notably Benson, hang themselves.

Misconceived, badly acted and sloppily directed.