The Bachelor movie storyline. Jimmie is seeing his single friends get married one by one. He isn’t too worried until his girlfriend Anne catches the bouquet at his friend Marco’s wedding. Suddenly, his wild mustang days are numbered. He finally decides to propose to her, but he sticks his foot in his mouth and botches the proposal.
Being insulted by the defeatist proposal, Anne leaves town on an assignment. After she’s gone, he finds out that his recently-deceased grandfather’s will stipulates that he gets nothing of a multi-million dollar fortune unless he’s married by 6:05pm on his 30th birthday: tomorrow! Not being able to find Anne, Jimmie begins backtracking through his past girlfriends to find a wife.
The Bachelor is a 1999 romantic comedy film directed by Gary Sinyor and written by Steve Cohen. It is a remake of the 1925 film Seven Chances and stars Chris O’Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Hal Holbrook, James Cromwell, Artie Lange, Edward Asner, Marley Shelton, Peter Ustinov, Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Stacy Edwards and Jennifer Esposito. The film was also the debut of R&B singer Grammy-winner Mariah Carey as an actress.
About the Story
Jimmie Shannon (Chris O’Donnell) wants to be a bachelor forever: a wild ‘Mustang’, free and never tied down. Eventually though, after three years he proposes to his girlfriend Anne (Renée Zellweger), in the most romantic restaurant in town—only he spoils the special occasion with a very crude approach.
Anne is going to Greece for an assignment when Jimmie discovers his crazy and heavily grouchy grandfather James Shannon (Peter Ustinov) has died and left him the family business that Pool table company called Shannon Billaeds, all his assets, and $100 million. But Jimmie can only have it if he is married by 6:05 p.m. on his 30th birthday, which happens to be the next day. He, his friend Marco (Artie Lange), and his grandfather’s two friends and colleagues (Ed Asner and Hal Holbrook) must find a bride in the next few hours. With a priest (James Cromwell) in tow, they begin.
Jimmie proposes to Anne again, but she is able to see his core reticence, and leaves for Greece. Jimmie, unable to give up inheriting the money due to the lives that would be ruined if the family business closes, decides to pursue ex-girlfriends to propose to. Meanwhile, Anne has second thoughts and returns to her apartment, which she shares with her sister Natalie (Marley Shelton). Natalie talks Anne into going home to go visit their parents in Napa for the night.
Jimmie, on his desperate quest, opens a shoebox full of photos of old girlfriends, and begins to track them down one by one. First he sees Stacey (Rebecca Cross), an oil futures trader, who, as it turns out, is engaged already. Second is Zoe (Stacy Edwards), a clingy window dresser. When Jimmie goes to see her, just after promising he’d never leave her for another woman, he runs off after a woman in the street whom he thinks is Anne (which turns out not to be). He returns to find Zoe has set a mannequin on fire in effigy of him. He also strikes out with a melodramatic opera singer (Mariah Carey) and a tough-as-nails cop (Jennifer Esposito).
Soon his list is depleted, but his last choice accepts— brittle, chain-smoking socialite Buckley (Brooke Shields), who detests Jimmie but wants his money to prop up her waning family fortune. As the priest tries to conduct the ceremony, she gradually learns the other conditions of the will: she and Jimmie must have children within five years, spend no more than one night apart per month, and need to stay married for at least ten years. Horrified, she drives off in a convertible.
Anne misses Jimmie and heads back to the city. Trying to locate Jimmie, she calls Marco to arrange dinner with Jimmie. Desperate, Marco had earlier placed an ad for a bride in the newspaper. He figures a few women will show up at the appointed time and church for the offer. As everyone scrambles to help Jimmie save the family business, Jimmie realizes the “effect” of marriage, as the kindly priest reveals how he took on the priesthood after his beloved wife died, and that he was proud to be married and produce a wonderful family in the process.
The Bachelor (1999)
Directed by: Gary Sinyor
Starring: Chris O’Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Hal Holbrook, James Cromwell, Artie Lange, Edward Asner, Marley Shelton, Peter Ustinov, Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Stacy Edwards, Jennifer Esposito
Screenplay by: Steve Cohen
Production Design by: Craig Stearns
Cinematography by: Simon Archer
Film Editing by: Robert M. Reitano, Florence Vinger
Costume Design by: Terry Dresbach
Set Decoration by: Ellen Totleben
Art Direction by: Randy Moore
Music by: David A. Hughes, John Murphy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language.
Distributed by: New Line Cinema
Release Date: November 5, 1999
Hits: 74
