Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

hfan77 In the mid 70s, Norman Lear was riding high with hit shows like All in the Family, Maude and Sanford and Son. Then came an idea for a satirical soap opera titled Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and it was turned down by the networks. But Lear did not give up and he sold the show in syndication, where it became popular in many markets opposite the news. I remember watching MH2 when I was in my teens and to me it was one of the weirdest TV shows of the 70s. Like many of Lear's shows, it focused on controversial themes such as mass murder, VD and exhibitionism. I remember Grandpa Larkin, who was referred to in the earlier episodes as "The Fernwood Flasher" but in the later episodes he was used less and his most common line was "Where's the peanut butter?" The weirdest thing that took place on the show was the way several characters died. Coach Fedders died by drowning in a bowl of chicken soup. The Rev. Jimmy Joe Jeeter was electrocuted when a TV fell in the bathtub and Garth Gimble was impaled by a Christmas tree. Despite the controversial themes, the show had an outstanding cast, anchored by Louise Lasser, who played the titled character so well, yet in a catatonic state. There was also Greg Mullavey as her husband Tom, Dody Goodman as her mother, and Debralee Scott as her sister Cathy. Also, the Hartman's daughter Heather was played by Claudia Lamb, who later went into radio. But the one regular who had success during the show's run was Mary Kay Place, whose portrayal of country singer Loretta Haggers also let to a record album and a country hit in real-life with "Baby Boy." She wrote all of the songs she sang on the show. Also appearing were Dabney Coleman, Martin Mull, Gloria DeHaven and as an evangelist, Doris Roberts. Unfortunately due to personal problems, Lasser left the show in 1977 and the rest of the cast continued under the titled "Forever Fernwood." But it wasn't successful and it ended after 26 weeks. Hopefull someday, a cable channel will rerun all 325 episodes of MH2 instead of a scant few. It's worth seeing again.

Steyr808 Well perhaps not the worst show ever, the Star Wars Christmas special was pretty bad. But at least most people agree that the SW special was god awful. And I'm not 100% certain it was actually worse.I never understood what people saw in it when it aired, I don't get it now.Louise is not funny, she seems to actually have serious problems. This is a notion that would be vindicated when she hosted Saturday Night Live where she was also, not surprisingly,...not funny.Supposedly this is a powerful feminist show. I'm not sure how portraying a person who is this messed up as some kind of icon to be aspired to advances the cause of feminism. I think the Mary Tyler Moore Show and it's spin off Rhoda are certainly more effective in that role. But the show did seem to appeal to people who also had serious personal problems. Maybe that explains it.

R D Who would have guessed that 30 years later Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman would still be an absolutely hilarious and entertaining program? Controversial for its time, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman still seems to walk the line of racy subject matters.....not subtle and not over-the-top. Watching takes you back in time. It is entertaining to see the fashion statements and listen to the dialog from so long ago. The series is really like a time capsule! Also enjoyable is the product placement, a real blast-to-the-past! Thanks to everyone who brought this program to DVD. I certainly hope that the entire series makes it to video.

phillycat26 Nothing has nor ever will come close to the sheer genius that was Mary Hartman,Mary Hartman. Every minute of that show was laugh out loud comedy.This show ran at 11pm on the local PBS station every single weeknight! i was a teenager and all our friends would gather around to watch this soap opera of a sort that was so funny,i couldn't believe it was on TV. I was able to get the first season on DVD for Christmas this past year (2006)and i was sort of afraid to watch it thinking it couldn't of been that good. It was! Better! LOretta Haggars was Mary's next door neighbor who goal in life was to be a country western singer.Her role is played superb! you can't hardly wait for her next scene. In one scene,her and her husband finally get the money up for a demo and set off for Nashville, along the way, hillbillies try and kidnap then, they crash into a station wagon full of nuns, kill several of them,Loretta's crippled and now there on a quest to find a faith healer! It's nonstop comedy and nonstop action. a must for everyone.! MY FAVORITE PERSON ON THE SHOW WAS MARY HARTMAN HERSELF. SHE Is the first true woman libber. she was a housewife and therfor the only person home to listen and read all the crap NOW put out in the 60's and 70's. she actually put into practice what all the libbers were hammering on about. when her husband had an affair and wanted mary to go to conseling with him and help him get over almost ruining their marriage, she said, NO WAY! YOU GO! YOU GET HELP! I'M NOT GOING TO TALKE THE BLAME FOR YOU BEING A PIG! first time in history the wife didn't have to pick up all the piece and make things better. all the stuff the libbers said to do, no one had time. mary hartman did. tom had to be responsible for the mess he made. mary can have a good life without him. let him go get help. he's the messed up one! not here!! right on mary!! love ya! thanks !