MovieChat Forums > Harold and Maude (1971) Discussion > Maude was annoying

Maude was annoying

posted 15 years ago by ksqueaker-1
21 replies | jump to latest

I rented this movie last night, expecting it to be great (I had heard a few times that it was a cinematic precursor to Wes Anderson's films) and was disappointed. I'd give it a solid B+, because although Harold was an intriguing, likeable character, Maude was so darn chipper and everything she said was very egocentric- like, "Well <b>I</b> think that you gotta look at life like this!" Or "<B>I<b/> love these flowers!" Her philosophy on life was so cheesy, and the film begged viewers to fall hook, line and sinker for it. I liked Harold in the beginning, as a gloomy boy, much more than I liked the dancing banjo-player Harold in the end.

Did anyone else find Maude's words to be mere platitudes? Or am I being curmudgeonly?

Check out my art! http://kristeng.deviantart.com/

[–] jrbleau 9 years ago

I liked the movie when I saw it many years ago shortly after it came out. On re-watching it recently, Maude seriously got on my nerves. Platitudes? Yes.

[–] JohnM_99 9 years ago

I thought same about Maude and the movie in general. Maybe the movie was groundbreaking at the time for faking a suicide scene as a joke, etc, but the characters' interactions mostly are really over the top, unsubtle, and "annoying." To me, it's one of those movies that really doesn't age well and people say they like it just because it's supposed to be one of "classics."

[–] dhmason6155 8 years ago

You're all a bunch of A-holes! Maude was a free spirit. I wish we had more free spirits now. Your attitudes say a lot about this generation and the kind of society we live in now: Humorless, too serious, too easily offended, diminished capacity for joy or warmth.

The sixties and seventies was one brief shining moment in our history where we could be joyful and passionate and express ourselves without shame or boundaries. It probably won't happen again for another hundred years.

We got a job.
What kind?
...The Forever Kind.

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

we could be joyful and passionate and express ourselves without shame or boundaries.

"I think that, as life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived”
―Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 1841-1935

Do it.

Ephemeron.

[–] dhmason6155 8 years ago

You're a kindred spirit. Thank you for carrying the torch. Thank you for keeping the faith.

We got a job.
What kind?
...The Forever Kind.

[–] forlorn_rage (163) 7 years ago

I don't mind Maude's "platitudes" much. They're what humanized her to me, as well as her mysterious past, likely involving her being a WWII holocaust survivor.

I was annoyed though by her reckless driving and constantly stealing other people's cars without much consideration to their feelings or situations. It reminded me of Susan Vance nonsensically stealing David Huxley's car in "Bringing Up Baby." That part still sticks out like a sore thumb without any rhyme or reason to the rest of the movie, which is saying quite a bit considering it's a romantic comedy about caretaking a leopard in Connecticut!

[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

"That part still sticks out like a sore thumb without any rhyme or reason to the rest of the movie, which is saying quite a bit considering it's a romantic comedy about caretaking a leopard in Connecticut!"

😄

I loved Bringing Up Baby, despite Susan's stealing of the car.

I can see how some might see Maude's expressed outlook on life as cheesy platitudes, particularly if they missed that she was a surviver of the concentration camps and had dealt with a lot of misery and loss in her life. I loved the character.

[–] forlorn_rage (163) 6 years ago

You might want to carefully my post again. I said I didn't mind Maude's "platitudes." I said I did mind her reckless driving and stealing of cars. I still love Maude (and Susan Vance). But, no one should do that, no matter what their past is. It's dangerous and reckless.

[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

I did read your post, you just misunderstood my reply.

First I thought it was hilarious the way you put this: "which is saying quite a bit considering it's a romantic comedy about caretaking a leopard in Connecticut!" And agreed about Susan stealing the car.

Second paragraph wasn't in response to you, it was to the OP in general. I too still love Maude and Susan, despite their shortcomings.