Cheaper to Keep Her (film)

Cheaper to Keep Her is a 1981 American comedy film directed by Ken Annakin, which starred singer-turned-actor Mac Davis alongside Tovah Feldshuh.

Cheaper to Keep Her
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKen Annakin
Produced byLenny Isenberg
Written byTimothy Harris
Herschel Weingrod
StarringMac Davis
Tovah Feldshuh
Jack Gilford
Rose Marie
Music byDick Halligan
CinematographyRoland 'Ozzie' Smith
Edited byEdward Warschilka
Production
company
Distributed byAmerican Cinema Releasing
Release date
  • March 13, 1981 (1981-03-13)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

William "Bill" Dekker (Davis) is a newly divorced swinger who goes to work for an attorney named K. D. Locke (Feldshuh) as an investigator. His assignments have him tracking down divorced men who have reneged on their alimony and child support payments, a twist of irony considering not only his chauvinistic tendencies, but also the fact that he himself is relying on the money he receives from his assignments to cover his own alimony payments. The film takes its title from the song of the same name, which can be heard over the opening credits.

Cast

Critical reception

Critical reaction to the film has been overwhelmingly negative. Leonard Maltin rated it a BOMB, while the reviewing duo of Mick Martin and Marsha Porter labeled it a turkey. Gene Siskel, who registered the film for a "Dog of the Week" segment on PBS' Sneak Previews,[1] called it "a pathetic comedy" with misleading advertising, adding:

The comedy is lame, the sex is childish, and the only reason the film has an "R" rating is because of a single swear word. "Cheaper to Keep Her" is a cheaply made, sloppily photographed comedy that isn't even on a par with the few made-for-TV movies I've seen. It should disappear from town in a week.[2]

References
  1. "Nighthawks/Modern Romance/Heaven's Gate/Excalibur/Napoleon", Sneak Previews. Chicago Educational Television Association. April 23, 1981.
  2. Siskel, Gene (March 31, 1981). "Seeing 'Cheaper to Keep Her', might be a costly mistake". Chicago Tribune. Section 3, p. 5.
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