Chemistry isn't something you can just fake with a high budget or a flashy script. It’s either there or it isn't. When people look back at the seems like old times movie cast, they aren't just looking at a list of actors; they’re looking at a specific moment in comedic history where the stars aligned perfectly.
Released in 1980, Seems Like Old Times wasn't just another slapstick comedy. It was a Neil Simon vehicle. That means the dialogue was fast, the timing had to be surgical, and the actors needed to handle the "comedy of errors" vibe without making it feel like a cheap sitcom. Honestly, the trio at the center of this—Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, and Charles Grodin—is basically the gold standard for late-70s and early-80s screen presence.
The Powerhouse Trio: Hawn, Chase, and Grodin
Goldie Hawn plays Glenda Gardenia Parks. She’s a public defender with a heart of gold and a house full of stray dogs and literal fugitives. Hawn was at the absolute peak of her "bubbly but brilliant" era here. It’s a role that requires a very specific type of frantic energy. You have to believe she’s smart enough to be a lawyer but empathetic enough to hide her ex-husband in the guest room while her current husband, the District Attorney, is trying to become the Attorney General.
Then you’ve got Chevy Chase as Nick Gardenia.
Chase was coming off a massive hot streak. He had that "coolest guy in the room who is also a complete disaster" energy that defined his early career. In Seems Like Old Times, he’s a writer who gets kidnapped, forced to rob a bank, and then ends up on the run. The way Chase plays off Hawn feels incredibly lived-in. It’s no surprise, considering they had already shown off their rapport in Foul Play a couple of years earlier. If you watch them closely, you’ll notice they don't step on each other's lines. They dance around them.
But, if we’re being real, Charles Grodin is the secret weapon of the seems like old times movie cast.
Grodin plays Ira Parks. He’s the straight man. In comedy, the straight man often gets ignored, but Grodin was a master of the "slow burn." His reactions to the chaos happening in his own house—the way his eyes twitch when he senses something is wrong—are just as funny as Chase’s physical pratfalls. Grodin understood that for the comedy to work, his character had to be genuinely stressed out. He wasn't playing a caricature; he was playing a man whose very organized life was being dismantled by his wife’s chaotic kindness.
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The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
You can't talk about this cast without mentioning Robert Guillaume. Best known for his role as Benson, Guillaume plays Fred, Ira’s assistant. He brings a level of sophisticated dry wit that balances out the more manic energy of the lead trio.
Then there’s TK Carter as Chester.
Chester is the "chauffeur" who is basically just a guy Glenda is trying to rehabilitate. His interactions with the rest of the household are gold. He represents the "stray" element of Glenda's life. He’s not a professional servant; he’s a project. The scene where he’s trying to serve dinner while the tension between Nick, Glenda, and Ira is boiling over is a masterclass in background acting.
Harold Gould and the Judges
Harold Gould appears as Judge John Channing. Gould was one of those character actors you’ve seen in a hundred things (The Sting, The Golden Girls), and he brings a necessary gravitas. In a Neil Simon script, you need characters who represent the "real world" so the absurdity of the leads feels earned. When the legal world and the domestic world collide in the third act, Gould’s steady hand makes the payoff work.
Why This Specific Casting Worked
Neil Simon wrote the screenplay specifically with these people in mind, or at least with this archetype. It’s a "screwball comedy," a genre that mostly died out after the 1940s but saw a brief, glorious resurgence in the late 70s.
To make a screwball comedy work, the cast needs:
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- Impeccable timing. If a joke lands a half-second late, it dies.
- Likability. Nick Gardenia is technically a fugitive. Glenda is technically breaking the law by harboring him. You have to like them enough to root for them anyway.
- Contrast. You need the "soft" (Hawn), the "sharp" (Chase), and the "rigid" (Grodin).
Most people don't realize that Seems Like Old Times was actually directed by Jay Sandrich. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he directed a huge chunk of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Cosby Show. He was a legendary TV director. This is why the movie feels so tight. He knew how to let the actors play within the frame without letting the pacing sag.
The Dynamics of the "Ex-Husband" Trope
The seems like old times movie cast had to navigate a tricky emotional landscape. How do you make a movie about a woman still caring for her ex-husband without it feeling like she’s cheating on her current husband?
It works because of the chemistry between Chase and Hawn. It’s platonic but deeply affectionate. They feel like two people who were once in love but realized they were better off as friends who occasionally drive each other crazy. If the casting had been different—say, if the ex-husband was played by someone more brooding or aggressive—the movie would have felt dark. Because it was Chevy Chase, it felt like a series of unfortunate events rather than a domestic drama.
The Dogs
It sounds silly, but the dogs in the movie are practically part of the cast. Glenda’s house is overflowing with them. They represent her inability to say no to anyone or anything in need. The actors had to work around a literal pack of animals, which adds to the genuine sense of domestic upheaval.
Behind the Scenes: A Different Era of Comedy
When you watch Seems Like Old Times today, you’re seeing the tail end of a specific era of Hollywood. This was before the high-concept, explosion-heavy comedies of the mid-80s took over. It was a character-driven piece.
There’s a lot of nuance in how Charles Grodin handles his frustration. He doesn't just yell. He simmers. There is a specific scene involving a chicken dinner that is probably one of the best examples of ensemble acting in the 80s. The way the cast moves around the table, the whispered arguments while people are coming in and out of the kitchen—it’s choreographed like a ballet.
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What Most People Forget
A lot of people confuse this movie with Foul Play. It makes sense. Same leads, similar vibe. But Seems Like Old Times is much more of a domestic farce. While Foul Play was a mystery-thriller-comedy, this is purely about the friction of relationships.
It’s also worth noting the impact of the script. Neil Simon is a Pulitzer Prize winner. He doesn't write "dumb" jokes. Every line in the movie serves a purpose, either building the character or setting up a payoff twenty minutes later. The cast had to be smart enough to "get" the rhythm of Simon's writing. Not every actor can do that.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Film Buffs
If you’re revisiting this movie or discovering it for the first time, keep an eye on these specific elements to truly appreciate what the cast accomplished:
- Watch the background. In scenes with the full household, watch what the characters who aren't talking are doing. Usually, Charles Grodin is doing something hilarious with just his facial expressions.
- Listen for the rhythm. The dialogue is meant to be snappy. It’s almost musical. Notice how Hawn and Chase pick up each other's cadences.
- Compare to modern rom-coms. You'll notice that modern movies often rely on "cringe" humor. Seems Like Old Times relies on "situational" humor. The characters aren't trying to be funny; they are trying to solve a problem, and that’s where the comedy comes from.
To truly understand why this cast worked, you have to look at the era's context. The 1980s were starting, and the cynicism of the 70s was washing away. People wanted to see people who genuinely liked each other, even in the middle of a disaster.
The next time you’re scrolling through streaming services, look for this one. It’s a masterclass in how to cast a comedy. It’s not just about putting three famous people in a room; it’s about putting the right three people in a room and letting them play.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
Check out the filmography of Charles Grodin following this movie, specifically his work in The Heartbreak Kid or Midnight Run. It shows the range of the "straight man" archetype he perfected here. Also, look into the screenplay collections of Neil Simon to see how his stage-writing background influenced the tight, rhythmic dialogue you see the seems like old times movie cast deliver so effortlessly.