Today’s quick review: Woman of the Year. Tess Harding (Katharine Hepburn), a political commentator for the New York Chronicle, makes an enemy of Sam Craig (Spencer Tracy), the paper’s sports columnist, when she suggests outlawing baseball in favor of more meaningful pastimes. Their public feud turns into a private romance as the two get to know each other better. But with their very different lifestyles, Tess and Sam struggle to find common ground.
Woman of the Year is a classic romance about an accomplished journalist who falls in love with an ordinary sportswriter. Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy star as a mismatched couple who nonetheless find something special in one another. The movie alternates between comedy and drama without pushing too far in either direction. The skill of its lead actors and an interesting relationship to explore make Woman of the Year a solid pick.
Woman of the Year sets itself apart with the subtle touches it puts on Tess and Sam’s relationship. The two are drawn to each other for reasons that are hard for either one to articulate. They have good chemistry, but unlike the couples in other romantic comedies, their banter isn’t at the heart of their relationship. Instead they have a deeper connection, one that leads to problems as they try to reconcile their different ways of looking at the world.
The catch is that Woman of the Year doesn’t have much in the way of concrete plot. The early part of the movie is spent introducing Tess, Sam, and their unlikely relationship. Later on, the focus quietly shifts to the challenges they face as a couple. There’s no external conflict fueling the drama, just the gradual realization that their relationship will take more work than either one expected.
Woman of the Year is a solid pick for fans of the classics. Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy are great together, and although the movie never reaches the comedic heights of its rivals, its tonal variety and more mature depiction of romance make it an enduring film nonetheless. Those who want something with a more focused plot may want to look elsewhere, as will viewers who prefer their comedy delivered in larger doses.
For a classic romantic comedy with the same leads and similar themes, try Adam’s Rib. For a more farcical take on the give-and-take of relationships, try How to Murder Your Wife. For a classic comedy set in the newsroom, try His Girl Friday.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a romantic case study brought to life by two talented leads.