Alan Alda worked himself away from the popular TV series "M*A*S*H" cautiously and nimbly, first as an actor in "Same Time, Next Year" and "California Suite", then as an actor-writer with "The Seduction of Joe Tynan" and eventually with his smoothest film to date, "The Four Seasons", where he was writer, director and star. 1988's "A New Life" seems to take him right back to television, with a sitcom script and one-dimensional characters. Alda and Ann-Margret are New York marrieds who decide to divorce and seek out other partners, finding themselves out of step with the modern singles-scene. Ann-Margret (sporting a big poof 'do that was way too big even for the '80's) is an attractive presence, and it seems natural for her to be drawn to John Shea (who could be Alda's younger brother), but the other players look lost in their roles, and Alda as a writer has only obvious points to make. It's all a comedic sham; plastic, unrealistic and relentlessly mediocre. *1/2 from ****

I would like to indicate that the name of the teacher listed in the credits is incorrect. The deaf education teacher in the scene where Ann Margret's character has gone back to school is my sister, Debbie Mabon-McIntosh. At the time, Debbie was teaching in Toronto at a school for the deaf, and the school was approached for a female teacher, approximately age 28, to give a brief lesson in sign language for the scene, which was filmed in Toronto. I'd like to see Debbie's name appear in the credits, largely because she passed away of ovarian cancer in June 1993, and her daughters (naw age 17 and 16)would like to see their mother's name in the credits. They have a great photo of Debbie with Alan Alda.

The writer and director, Alan Alda (who also stars, sporting an unflattering haircut), enters Woody Allen territory here, but the result is unfortunately bland and forgettable. He seems to know all the right moves and maintains an agreeable tone, but there isn't enough wit in the lines, or enough laughs, or enough insights into the characters. Ann-Margret does look sensational, however. (**)