Table for Five

Table for Five is a 1983 American drama film film directed by Robert Lieberman and starring Jon Voight and Richard Crenna.

J.P. Tannen (Voight) is a former professional golfer living in California who is estranged from his three children. The children live in New York with their mother, Kathleen (Millie Perkins), and stepfather, attorney Mitchell (Crenna). Hoping to reconnect with his children, Tannen decides to take them on a Mediterranean cruise. Tannen, who still has feelings for Kathleen, wants her to believe he has changed, but she remains unconvinced.

On the cruise, Tannen is often distracted by the prospect of meeting women, including French archaeologist Marie (Marie-Christine Barrault). He frequently leaves the children to entertain themselves. He reserves a table for five in the dining room, secretly hoping to find an adult female companion for the fifth seat.

His youngest son, Truman-Paul (Robby Kiger), has a learning disability, which Tannen impatiently tries to push him to overcome. His adopted oldest son, Trung (Son Hoang Bui), is caught stealing food from the ship's galley and attempting to order drinks with a fake ID. Their sister, Tilde (Roxana Zal), is sensible and sensitive but too young to act as a parental figure for the boys.

Tannen begins to feel inadequate as a traditional father, suggesting that the children think of him as a "friend" and even call him "J.P." The trip temporarily improves at the ship's first port of call, Rome. The family enjoys time together, and Marie is impressed by Tannen's seemingly caring interactions with his children.

However, while en route to the next stop, Athens, Tannen receives devastating news. Kathleen has been killed in a car accident in New York while taking the family dog to the vet. Grief-stricken, he meets the children's stepfather, Mitchell, in Athens. Mitchell explains that he proceeded with Kathleen's burial and flew to Europe to escort the children home, where a memorial service would be held later.

Tannen insists on telling the children himself and asks for more time. Mitchell attempts to dissuade him but ultimately agrees to leave the children with their father for a while longer.

The ship proceeds to Cairo. While the children are sightseeing, Tannen meets with Mitchell again in a local tavern and reveals he is considering pursuing full custody of the children. Their conversation escalates into a heated argument. Mitchell points out Tannen's history as an absentee parent, noting he doesn't even know the names of his children's friends or teachers. He hints at knowledge of Tannen's unsuccessful business dealings and vows to use his legal expertise to ruin him.

Tannen confesses to Marie the truth about how little time he has spent with his children over the years. Marie joins the family on a trip to the Pyramids. It is there that Tannen finally breaks down and informs the children of their mother's death. The children are devastated.

At the next stop, Tunis, Trung runs away. He takes the first launch to shore, intending to make his way back to the U.S. Tilde tells her father that Trung has a history of running away, another fact Tannen was unaware of. They find him in a marketplace and catch up to him after a chase. Tannen forces the boy to open up, and Trung angrily tells him he needs Tannen as a father, not a "friend."

Mitchell is waiting in Genoa, prepared to take the children back to the United States and their home. As gently as possible, Tannen informs Mitchell that he is keeping them. He then recites a list of the children's friends and teachers, demonstrating his determination to be more involved in their lives.

The film uses extensive location shooting. For the cruise scenes, producers selected the MS Vistafjord (now part of Saga Cruise Line), which was considered one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the Western Hemisphere at the time. Many scenes were filmed at sea during an actual voyage. Other scenes were shot on location in Rome, Athens, and at the Giza pyramids.

The film premiered in the United States on February 18, 1983.

Kevin Costner has a small role as a newlywed passenger on the ship.

Table for Five was released in the United States on February 18, 1983. In the Philippines, the film was retitled The Champ: Second Chance to associate it with Jon Voight's unrelated earlier film The Champ and premiered on December 16, 1987.

• Table for Five at IMDb
• Table for Five at TV Guide
• Table for Five at Rotten Tomatoes