Fairpoint

Fairpoint is a 1998 comedy film directed by Paul Michael Glaser from a screenplay by Tony Gilroy. The story involves a lady (played by Helen Hunt) not agreeing with the gentleman (played by Alec Baldwin) over not having any fair points he gave to her and both were in court to settle the case for their fairpoints. The film stars Helen Hunt, Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Jane Lynch, and Richard Gere.

The film was released in the United States on March 20, 1998, by DreamWorks Pictures.

Plot
In the county, a lady named Flora Green (Helen Hunt) was working in a daycare with an intention to earn fair point. Alex Dawson (Alec Baldwin) was in a meeting with his boss John Clinton (Richard Gere) if he can agree with getting fair points. Clinton responded to Dawson that he can't get any of these unless he agrees with the person who has them. Disappointed, Dawson goes home with his own fair points. Going for a walk, Dawson sees a daycare sign that says "you can have a fair point to Flora Green" before getting in. Flora Green welcomes him then he asks her if she was going to have fairpoints he gave to her, which Green refuses to. Dawson and Green both got into arguments afterward.

Ben Reilly (Harrison Ford), hearing an argument between Green and Dawson, convinces them to calm down. He also tells them that they have to be in court with Ruby Jones (Jane Lynch) to justify their fairpoints being fair. As Green and Dawson went back to their homes, Green was furious that Dawson wasn't quite fair enough to give a fairpoint. She wants to get him for her true fairpoint. Meanwhile, Dawson is writing his check for the court meeting with Ruby Jones. Looking for it, Green was preparing to argue with Dawson, by practicing her court script about justifying fairpoints.

Meanwhile, Dawson finds a note from Clinton and realizes that "fairpoints" are important to be given to people who know it's fair and are willing to make fairpoints the case. During the process of court preparation, Ben was looking to be a lawyer for Ruby. She then accepted Reilly's offer to be the court's lawyer. Green then calls Jones for her prepared argument with Dawson. As the court begins, Green argues that Dawson was not passion to give any fairpoints with his sensibility. Dawson then counter-argues that fairpoints should be fair and important to give out to people. Reilly then hired Clinton to head to court that fairpoints has yet to be justified. Clinton argues that justifying fairpoints could be important for many people who know it's fair. Jones then made her final verdict that fairpoints should be fair to be given as the case was settled.

Green then apologizes to Dawson for refusing to take any fairpoints from him. She is now given a fairpoint as Dawson smiles.

Cast

 * Helen Hunt as Flora Green
 * Alec Baldwin as Alex Dawson
 * Harrison Ford as Ben Reilly
 * Jane Lynch as Ruby Jones
 * Richard Gere as John Clinton

Production
In 1992, writer Tony Gilroy sent a script to Multimedia Motion Pictures, with Michael Wildshill on board as executive producer. In 1993, Steven Spielberg was asked by Multimedia to direct the film, following the success of Jurassic Park and Schindler's List.

Spielberg turned down, and hired Mick Jackson to direct the film. Jackson turned down in order to do Volcano. In 1995, DreamWorks acquired the distribution rights of the film from Multimedia in order to approach Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, chairmen of DreamWorks to produce the film. Paul Michael Glaser was selected to direct the film. Wildshill hired Helen Hunt and Alec Baldwin to be cast in the film. Jerry Springer and Sally Jesse Raphael were offered the roles, but Multimedia turned down so they could do better stars.

Shortly after Multimedia's assets were sold to Universal Pictures, DreamWorks took over production, which caused Michael Wildshill to leave in order to focus on animation. Spielberg took over Wildshill's duties as executive producer.

Box office
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Critical response
To be added

Home media
Fairpoint was released on VHS on November 24, 1998, by DreamWorks Home Entertainment. It was later released on DVD on December 8, 1998. The film was released on Blu-ray on February 2, 2021, by Paramount Home Entertainment.