While Beth Goodwin is a happily married mother of two children, living with a pianist, psychiatrist Larry Livingstone is living in New York with wife Jo and their two young children. Three years later, Beth's husband Peter suddenly becomes paralyzed in his hands and commits suicide, leaving Beth and the children heartbroken. Larry is abandoned by his wife and two children, who have moved to London since the split. Larry is introduced to Beth at a party thrown by Martin and Sidney, and an immediate attraction ensues. Larry is distracted, though, by the attendance of Jo, who has shown up with her new flame, actor Jack. At the end of the night, he goes home with Beth, and is welcomed by her children Cathy and Petey. Even though Jo's mother Neenie criticizes him for having given up on his marriage with Jo too fast, Larry continues to see Beth. He introduces his children Robin and Billy to the Goodwins, but they do not blend well together. Robin blames her father for replacing Jo with Beth, and a planned wedding is postponed due to the continuing friction. Sidney, Beth's best friend, advises her to give Larry another chance, explaining how love is not always perfect by giving the example of how Martin once committed adultery. Simultaneously, Larry dresses up as Cupid and convinces her to marry him. Beth soon starts to worry about their future, fearing that Larry will one day abandon her the way Peter did. Larry proposes they move to another apartment, explaining that their current residence will always be Cathy and Petey's father's place. Beth's children are opposed to a move. While Beth is overseas for work, daughter Cathy starts to rebel and is arrested for shoplifting at Bloomingdale's. Larry continues to feel vulnerable to Jo, whose mother is revealed to be dying, prompting Jo to leave the children with Larry. Since the death of Neenie, Larry's focus is on comforting his ex-wife and kids. Jo admits that she still loves him, leaving Larry uncertain what to do. He assures Beth that he did not commit adultery, despite feeling connected to Jo. Cathy and Petey mistake Larry and Beth's night of making love for a violent struggle. They fear that something bad has happened, making the children realize how much they actually appreciate Larry. The whole family agrees to move to a new house.
Cast
Critical reception
of The New York Times criticized the film's script, but praised the cast: Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two and a half stars out of four and also felt that the script was not great but that the actors did well:
