Too Far To Go

Excellent 1988 film based on John Updike's short stories about the Maple family. Richard (Michael Moriarty) and Joan (Blythe Danner) Maple are a couple on the verge of divorce, working out the logistic details of how their mostly-grown children will be informed at roughly the same time. As they tackle this problem, flashbacks trace the highlights and lowlights of their married life. Although the amount of affairs racked up by the Maples over the years seems rather exaggerated, Updike's mordant eye is dead-on target when it comes to exploring the strange mix of desire, boredom, guilt, betrayal, and loyalty that go into the creation of several decades of a marriage. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review--Mar. 9, 2004--Monterey, 98 min., not rated, $14.95--Making its debut on DVD, Fielder Cook's 1979 Too Far to Go features a decent transfer, and text cast bios, an author bio for Updike, and production notes. Bottom line: bargain-priced, this excellent adaptation is still highly recommended on DVD.]