MovieChat Forums > Grace Under Fire (1993) Discussion > Ryan Sparks vs other boyfriends

Ryan Sparks vs other boyfriends

posted 18 years ago by freesharon
10 replies | jump to latest

The show was in nightly reruns when I first saw it so I went through the whole thing in about a year. Really liked it early on and liked the chemist she dated for a very short time (in the first season?). Never really cared for her other boyfriends, especially the one who wanted her to move to Alaska.
Anyone else care to comment on the character's relationship history and the relative merits of the guys in her life and/or why they left? Or the relative merits of the actors who played the roles and their careers before and after the show?
Such as: the Ryan Sparks character -- intelligent, funny, sensitive -- everything her ex was not -- was a good thing in her life until he demanded she have children with him. Everything else about him was good for her and refusing to agree was good for her too.
The next time I saw William Fitchner was in Contact as the blind scientist (a supporting role) and I found his characterization fascinating (and probably a better guy for a stable long term relationship than a hot conflicted media hungry religious leader).
Then I saw him in Armeddegon (again, not a leading role) and found him as believeable as anyone else in that likable comic book type scifi. He was really the straight man in that one.
Then I saw him in the ads for Invasion and watched it because he was in it. A very complex and ambiguous role, very well played.
Haven't seen him in movies where he played the lead.
Haven't recognized any of her other boyfriends anywhere else but don't know if that is because they weren't there or because they (or their characters) didn't impress me memorably.

[–] irishstar2005 18 years ago

he's on Prison Break now.

my bubbles.

[–] freesharon 18 years ago

Heard he's one of the best actors in the series but don't want to start watching in the second or third season so will wait on that. Bought Go because he was in it and enjoyed it and his part (funny! another cop) and bought A Perfect Storm but couldn't make myself watch the whole thing. Once they got on the boat and the antagonism between his character and the one played by the guy who was so good in Chicago -- I just couldn't buy it. Two great actors but it was unbelievable to me. Trying to think who among my friends would like that DVD....

[–] irishstar2005 18 years ago

I totally understand about not wanting to start watching a series after a season has already past. I started Grey's Anatomy in the middle of season 2. Made it hard to understand some things. Prison Break is really good, although I haven't been able to watch this season because of scheduling conflicts and work and school and such. And I haven't seen The Perfect Storm, but I can image how unbelievable something like that would be. Which guy from Chicago was it? Richard Gere or the guy who played Roxie's husband?

my bubbles.

[–] freesharon 18 years ago

Roxy's husband. Haven't seen a lot of his work but he was great as Mr. Cellophane.

[–] irishstar2005 18 years ago

agree.

my bubbles.

[–] casuals 18 years ago

yeah, I like him too on the show..too bad it didn't work out

[–] chronicbliss2 18 years ago

He's incredibly sexy in The Longest Yard, but I've never seen him as sexy as he was in this show. Who would've known petro-chemists could be so hot?

[–] stargzr454 17 years ago

I thought Dave Thomas played a great character, but was very implausable as a love interest for Brett. No chemistry, no attraction, and I just think they wouldn't be a couple in the real world.

Hey Mav, you got the number of that truckdrivin' school, Truck Masters I think it is..

[–] freesharon 17 years ago

Dave Thomas was her friend so long that I forgot they were supposed to have been an item for a while. You're right -- no physical chemistry between them but their humor and outlook made them a great pair as friends. I actually liked a lot of the characters on this show. Many sitcoms that I find funny are full of people I would trust to order lunch, much less with my spare key or my kids. (I'm thinking Seinfeld especially.)

"There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth." ~ Robert Evans

[–] MrBreeze18 8 years ago

Russell and Grace weren't an item very long. It was either the first or second episode where they tried to go on a date and quickly established that he was going to forever be in the "FRIENDZONE". As far as boyfriends, I think Rick was the best fit. However, I think the writers probably had in mind the whole time that there was never going to be a permanent man in her life and wrote arcs for recurring guest stars that lasted a few months to a whole season. The soccer coach and the chiropractor don't seem very memorable to me.