Word: murray
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...appearance of two social workers, Albert Amundson (John O'Brien) and Sandra Markowitz (Anne Ames), who visit Murray's home to investigate his reliability as a guardian for Nick, threatens the pair's unconventional life. Despite Nick's valiant attempts to assure them he reads educational books and has a healthy and well-adjusted environment, the Child Welfare Board rules that he must leave if Murray does not find a job. To add to Murray's dilemma, he and Sandy fall in love, and his free-spirit faces the agonizing choice of kowtowing to society's definition of "well-adjusted...
...turn in commendable performances as the middle-aged 12-year old who combines an earnest wisdom with a gleeful sense of comedy. Scales begins unevenly marring his performance with unclear diction, rushed lines, and a soft tone, but once he gains his stride he does a good job as Murray's sidekick. He particularly excels in the climatic scene when Murray must decide whether to capitulate to society and return to work. Scales protests Murray's decision with devastating honesty and childlike earnestness...
Ames as Sandy perfects a somewhat prim and precise nasal tone as the fumbling but concerned social worker. She is especially effective when embarassed or clumsy, although occasionally her wide-eyed tone is a bit unconvincing. A marvelous scene ensues after Sandy spends the night at Murray's apartment. She dresses nervously behind a partition, and exchanges banalities about coffee slogans to cover her insecurity about the relationship. Ames also stands out in the scene where her fellow caseworker stalks out, as she futilely tries to pick up the folders which keep dropping out of her hands. The director...
...Brien shines as the prissy, preppie caseworker who finds Murray incomprehensible. He constantly raises his eyebrows, squirms, pedantically refers to Nick as "the child" and misses the humor in every one of Murray's gibes. In one very funny scene, O'Brien feigns horror at Nick's doll whose well-endowed breasts light up, but with prurient delight, he sneaks a peak...
Harry Dorfman as Arnold Burns and Kipp Rogers as Chuckles the Chipmunk, Murray's boss, also measure up to the rest of the cast. Dorfman competently fills the role of Murray's serious brother who compromised long ago and endures Murray's scorn with dignity. Rogers is fittingly unbearable as the pitifully unfunny Chuckles...