Isabella Rossellini and Ted Danson! Yes, you heard right. They are the romantic leads in this romantic comedy, but they are married to other people, him to Sean Young and her to William Petersen. If I recall correctly, Isabella and Sean are first cousins or something, but that's neither here or there. (And, may not be right.) The story begins with the marriage of Uncle Phil (actor George Coe.) Through Sean and William's affair, Isabella and Ted meet and spend time together just because the others are off having fun, so why not? They don't plan on anything really serious and didn't plan on getting hurt or hurting anybody. But… This is a mixed bag of sorts, in that while it boasts the beautiful Isabella Rossellini (who looks and sounds more and more like her mother Ingrid Bergman as she gets older) and has some of the most romantic and intimate scenes ever put on screen, it also is kind of irreverent in its own way, with a disrespectful view to convention, with several little things thrown in here and there. But, in doing so, showing that life is full of good and bad and that life goes on. And, the movie stresses the family as a unit, as they are seen together at important stages and events.Lloyd Bridges is on hand to give one of his most winning performances in his later years, if you don't count his silly "Hot Shots" movies. He always did exude such energy and charm. And, he stayed lean in his later years, too, making him very "bankable" and/or "saleable." I've never been much of a Ted Danson fan (never watched "Cheers" as a rule, but saw some of the early years with Shelley Long), but I have to give it to him, that even he couldn't ruin this enchanting and very satisfying film.If you want a romance (and with beautiful Isabella Rossellini, to boot) and with a little spice added, then you know how to enjoy life! Stay close to your cousins!

COUSINS (1989) *** Ted Danson, Isabella Rossellini, Sean Young, William Petersen, Lloyd Bridges, Keith Coogan, Norma Aleandro. Entertaining tale of adultery among married relatives and really about true love appearing in the least likely of places. Warm and romantic with some sly observations of marriage and infidelity. Danson is charming and Rossellini radiantly beguiling. Beautiful music score by Angelo Badalamenti. Bridges and Coogan together are a riot. American remake of French flick "Cousine, Cousine".

I can't imagine why this movie has only received a rating of 6 in this database. If you read the comments, everyone liked it. There were so many neat little things going on it in I decided to look up both the director and screenwriter. I want to make sure I see more of their stuff.

I loved the 1975 French movie "Cousin, Cousine" (roughly pronounced 'koo-ZAN koo-ZEEN', for the non-francophiles). It was a very funny, very sexy and "tres French" movie.So I rolled my eyes when I heard of this American remake, especially when I learned that Ted Danson would play the male lead. Nothing against Mr. Danson's abilities, but I assumed the casting of a television star -- "Cheers" was still going strong on NBC at the time -- meant that bigger names had identified this film as a stinker and were staying away.I was happily surprised when this remake turned out to be as funny, warm and romantic (if a tad less sexy) than the original. In fact, it's nearly the same movie, and in this case that's a good thing. Thankfully Paramount didn't feel the need to alter too much.Like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" (which came after), most of the action in this movie takes place at various ritual gatherings of family and friends. Danson and Isabella Rossellini play cousins by marriage who are each saddled with attractive but less than desirable mates: hilarious performances by Sean Young and William L. Petersen.In fact, everyone is good in this movie. It should have led to better movie parts for Mr. Danson, but unfortunately it wasn't a financial success. Lloyd Bridges as a family patriarch is a revelation. Again, if the film had done better at the box office, he might have earned an academy award nomination."Cousins" is a large-cast movie that leaves one feeling good without ignoring the pain in life. It's "wedding as microcosm" and everyone has a part to play. It's unusual to see a movie with so many age groups represented, and everyone equal. It's not a teen film, but neither is it an anti-teen film. It's a film about the swirl of life. Babies are born, old people die, couples form and break-up... and all observed from a slightly removed point of view, so that we see ourselves and also see that we shouldn't always take ourselves too seriously.Don't let your preconceptions keep you away from "Cousins." It's a wonderful little/big movie.