Shy, awkward, a bit backward, and unfamiliar with social gatherings, landscape gardener Mike Selway is invited to a party where he will unknowingly be fixed-up with the hostess' sister, Laura, an attractive middle-aged interpreter, successful in her career but who becomes high-strung and uncomfortable out of her element. While both singles are independently moving on in their careers, they feel the threads of their pre-arranged, but humdrum, lives upsettingly unraveled by the lure of cupid's captivating arrow.
Helen (Susan Penhaligon, Bouquet of Barbed Wire) and husband Phil (Richard Warwick, Romeo and Juliet) seem to have a perfect marriage and social life. But Phil's friend, Mike, and Helen's sister, Laura seem to be on the outskirts of the dating game. Planning to add a little spark of romance to the singles' otherwise dull and unimaginative lives, the hosting couple plans an arranged meeting for the two at their upcoming party. Both Laura and Mike are reluctant to get back into the dating scene, and when introduced at the party, find the situation awkward and unbearable. While dodging each other throughout the evening, they both separately decide to sneak out and unavoidably meet each other at the front door. When approached by Helen and Phil, they make an hurried excuse to get away. Satisfied that they have made a good match, Helen and Phil assume the arrangement was a success, and Mike and Laura will be spending the night together as a couple.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching A Fine Romance as this couple's romantic interests blossom from that of distaste to respect... admiration... and love. It was pleasant to walk back to a more appreciating time when love could evolve at its own pace.
The incomparable comedic acting of Dench and Williams reflects their successful and long-lasting careers and marriage. The writing style of Bob Larbey is as delightful as that of Neil Simon, and an included bonus are his Production Notes. And, we get to experience the title song through the voice of the leading actress Judi Dench! Due to the age of the series, there may be some flaws in the audio and visual presentation obvious in artifacts that pop up and some fuzziness, especially during outdoor scenes. However, I was so invested in the program that I didn't really notice the flaws as they were minimal and practically unnoticed. The sitcom was short-lived, only 26 episodes, but tastefully entertaining. I will be searching for more comedies that lead with these two notable actors to add to my collection.
