Successful New York playwright Erica Barry (Diane Keaton) is not thrilled with the new companion her daughter Marin (Amanda Peet) has chosen. And Erica's sister Zoe (Frances McDormand), a women's studies professor, doesn't like him much, either. He's Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson), a record company executive and veteran playboy who is more than twice Marin's age.

Erica is even less enthralled with Harry when she is forced to host him at her Hampton beach house for several days because of medical complications that prevent him from returning to the city. She's busy trying to write her next play, for heaven's sakes. To say that these two make an odd couple is to overstate the obvious. But bit by bit, they actually find some tolerance for one another and even establish some common ground. Is it possible that they could become friends? Or that "something" could ever happen between them?

In the meantime, Erica is now being courted by Harry's younger doctor, Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves). Her situation ironically mimics the very scenario she found so offensive in Harry and Marin, except that now the gender roles are reversed. Will Erica ever take this new relationship as seriously as Julian obviously does? What will happen if/when she eventually has to make a decision about it?

And yet: Since Erica is a playwright, everything is material. Her life is suddenly so full of emotion and confusion that she is inspired to put her personal experiences into her new manuscript. (In thin disguise, of course.) Can she at least create a successful play out of this new and uncomfortable situation?

Harry, in the meantime, is back in the city and continues to suffer from stress. Will this old dog ever be able to learn any new tricks? (Do we think he can?)

And then we have us, the viewers. We have a stake in this triangular relationship, too. And it's not just about Erica, Harry and Julian. For us, it may also be about Diane, Jack and Keanu. We may break through the fictional plane and consider the actors behind the characters. Who do we think will end up together? Who do we want to end up together? Who would even look right together, as a couple? At a certain point late in the story, it would have been fun to stop the film and to ask the audience to weigh in on the plot's resolution. You could do this yourself, if you're watching it with others in the room.

Something's Gotta Give still plays well, with a good plot and with interesting characters, as portrayed by accomplished actors. This romantic comedy aims for an older and probably mainly female audience, who may be especially able to relate to the emotional turmoil that Erica goes through. The story is relatable, for sure. It even offers plausible insights into the writing process, as we watch Erica work on her play and deal with uncertainty and low self-esteem moments along the way.

The film is rated PG-13 for some language and a few sex (or implied sex) scenes, as well as some nudity. It's one of my 50 mainstay movies, and I don't mind watching it at least once or twice a year.

If you enjoy watching budding relationships between unlikely individuals as much as I do, you may also like Crossing Delancey, French Kiss, Murphy's Romance, Runaway Bride and When Harry Met Sally.... Each one creates a unique set of circumstances that two unique characters have to deal with. Along the way, each person meets the other. And you'll probably be able to predict how the stories will end.