A film about friendships and the cycle of life, the story revolves around three upper middle-class couples who have been vacationing together for years. They do so in each of the four seasons. There’s Jack and Kate Burroughs (Alda and Burnett) a lawyer and a magazine editor, respectively; Nick and Ann Callan (Cariou and Dennis), an estate planner and housekeeper turned budding photographer; and Danny and Claudia Zimmer (Weston and Moreno). He’s a dentist, she’s a painter. Outwardly, their all the picture of personal and professional success. The truth isn’t so simple.
During their first springtime vacation, things appear idyllic as the couples arrive at a rented lake house in upstate New York. The husbands prepare an elaborate Chinese dinner. Its laughs and good conversation as they eat. Later however, Nick confides to Jack that he’s planning on divorcing Ann. Married 21 years, Nick has never really loved Ann and he finds her boring. It has taken her three years to do a photo display of vegetables! Jack can’t believe it.
On the next vacation, a summer cruise in the Caribbean aboard a rented boat, Jack and the others are still getting over Nick and Ann’s divorce. It’s made more difficult when Nick shows up with a much younger Ginny Newley (Bess Armstrong). Nick and Ginny’s constant showing of affection and the sounds of sex from their cabin annoys everyone, but also leaves some of them feeling envious. Particularly the men, who wonder if passion is still present in their marriages.
With each season and every subsequent vacation, cracks in the friendships appear. Jealousies and animosities come to the surface. The once easy conversations are riddled with sighs and long silences. Alda effectively shows that like the seasons, people change, and friendships evolve. Changes like the seasons are a necessary part of life.
Alan Alda does a good job of getting the audience interested in the couples and their wives. However, he does tend to give more depth to the males in the cast. There is much exploration of how the husbands feel about their marriages, while the women remain somewhat peripheral, their emotions expressed only through the reactions of their husbands. The exception is Sandy Dennis’ Ann. As the wife tossed aside, she is the only one who no longer fits in their friendship circle. Alda has written a touching scene where Ann expresses all the pain and sadness that caused her. Carol Burnett does a wonderful job with the material. Watching her in roles like this makes me wish she had been given more opportunities to show her skills as a dramatic actress.
It’s worth noting that The Four Seasons was a real family affair for Alan Alda. His daughters Elizabeth and Beatrice play the children of Alda/Burnett and Cariou/Dennis and his wife Arlene, a photographer, provided the photos of the vegetables Ann is working on.
Presented in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film looks wonderful in 1080p. The image is sharp throughout and colors are vibrant. There is an occasional speck of dust but its nothing that should affect the viewing experience.
Considering its era, the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack is solid. Vocals are clean and clear in this dialogue heavy film. The classic music in the background is well recorded and nicely combined with environmental effects. There are no defects such as crackles and pops.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following special features are available:
- Audio Commentary with Author and Film Historian Bryan Reesman
- Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:25)
- Radio Spot (1:30)
- TV Spot (HD, 0:31)
