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Lost in Yonkers

Lost in Yonkers

Drama · Comedy · 1993

In the summer of 1942 two young boys are sent to stay with their stern grandmother Kurnitz and their childlike aunt Bella in Yonkers, New York.

Movie details

Lost in Yonkers

“This summer there's no better place to find yourself.”

1993 Drama · Comedy 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

In the summer of 1942 two young boys are sent to stay with their stern grandmother Kurnitz and their childlike aunt Bella in Yonkers, New York.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Lost in Yonkers?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Martha Coolidge

Written by

Neil Simon

Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss

Louie Kurnitz

Mercedes Ruehl

Mercedes Ruehl

Bella Kurnitz

Irene Worth

Irene Worth

Grandma Kurnitz

Brad Stoll

Brad Stoll

Jay Kurnitz

Mike Damus

Mike Damus

Arty Kurnitz

David Strathairn

David Strathairn

Johnny

Robert Miranda

Robert Miranda

Hollywood Harry

Court is in session

Put Lost in Yonkers on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.