Lovesick

Marshall Brickman attempts something comedic, fanciful and yet high-brow with "Lovesick"...and the different genres prove to be an uneasy mix. Dudley Moore, who at this point was churning out more bombs than WWII, plays the most unconvincing psychiatrist I have ever seen; his rapport with Alec Guinness (a fantasy Freud) has a tidy bounce, and John Huston works minor magic as the head of the medical board, but Moore is continually unsure of himself. Elizabeth McGovern tries hard as the object of Moore's lovesickness, but she isn't really suited to this kind of material--nor is she suitable for Dudley Moore, just as Mary Tyler Moore was wrong for him in "Six Weeks" and Mary Steenburgen looked out of place in the later "Romantic Comedy". The picture has a poor, cheap look, with blurry beiges and whites typical of the staid early-'80s, and I couldn't wait until it was over. *1/2 from ****

If you are looking for fantasy with a happy ending, this is it.

The Beautiful Elizabeth Mcgovern and Dudley Moore make a interesting couple.She's ( 5'10')tall, he is short, She has a Mid-West accent and he has a English accent, He's calm and she has anxiety neurosis.They say opposites attract.

There are some interesting " Freudian Slips " in the movie. Moore's fantasy about being in the late 19th Century, rowing her down the river, and both being attired appropriately ( she is stunning to say the least )is based on the painting in his office.During a Analytic session she puts him into her recollection of a book,because his first name ( Saul ) and the author's first name are the same.Finally, in the beginning of the flick, his friend,Otto goes to cut his cake and puts the knife through his name as the camera records.Otto has a heart attack and dies. It was nice seeing Manhattan of the early 80's.Especially Chloe and Saul walking arm in arm in Central Park Also the soundtrack ( especially the flute )is and very excellent and soothing.

In his entrance scene, Dudley Moore shows himself to be structured, responsible, and no-nonsense. He gets to work early, asks his receptionist for any messages, and prepares his very tidy office for his first patient. As a therapist, he listens to people pouring out their unfixable, mostly small problems, and he never gets emotionally involved. He talks with a colleague, Wallace Shawn, who confesses that he's become obsessed with a young female patient. Wallace dies of a heart attack, and soon after, Dudley get a call from the aforementioned female patient asking for an appointment. The supposedly irresistible, enigmatic, vivacious, vibrant young woman is Elizabeth McGovern, who unfortunately plays her part very quietly. Since I couldn't see what was so tempting about her, I kept coming up with alternate plot twists that the story could have turned into: she was imaginary, she made a game of seducing all her therapists, it was all a dream so Dudley could warn Wallace before it was too late - but folks, just turn off your brains. It's just a little romantic comedy, nothing more. It is a bit quirky, but it's also pretty cute.

Alec Guinness has a very fun role as the spirit of Freud reincarnated in Dudley's imagination. Dudley can confess to his mentor analyst, John Huston, but the best advice comes from Freud, of course. Everyone seems to have a lot of fun making the movie (although Elizabeth seems determined to be as low-key about her enthusiasm as possible), including young, pre-discovered David Strathairn as a nutty homeless patient and Christine Baranski as a patient who constantly talks about sex. If you like your romances to have a little fantasy in them, or you'd like to see one of Dudley Moore's cuter movies, rent this forgotten '80s comedy.

It's rather like Arthur meets Woody Allen but manages to do neither well, which is surprising since the director wrote the script for Annie Hall. You'd think you'd at least have a decent rip-off of an Allen rom-com. But you would be wrong.

Dr. Saul Benjamin (Dudley Moore) is a well ordered and conscientious married psychiatrist in New York City. A colleague confesses that he has fallen in love with a patient (Elizabeth McGovern as Chloe) and then dies of a heart attack. As a result, Benjamin ends up taking on the object of his dead colleague's affection as a patient. Subsequently, he also falls in love with her, but wonders what she feels for him. So he does what any conscientious psychiatrist would do - He steals her keys, breaks into her apartment, reads her diary, and then hides in the bathroom - in the bathtub actually - which is where she discovers him.

Rather than finding this behavior over-the-top creepy and calling the police, she finds it endearing and they start a love affair. At least Benjamin is honest with his wife about all of this, and she doesn't mind in the least because she is having an affair too. Complications ensue.

The part that ages the worst - the stalking, the breaking and entering, and the diary reading - was actually the main part of the trailer for the film, which 41 years later is unbelievable. I know this, because I remember the ads for it in the theater so I remember the scene.

Peter Sellers was supposed to have the role of Dr. Benjamin, but died of a heart attack before filming began. I can't see it playing any better had he had the role, since the age difference between Moore and McGovern is part of what makes this thing not work, and Peter Sellers was even older than Moore.

Saul Benjamin (Dudley Moore) is a married therapist with a variety of patients and imaginary Sigmund Freud (Alec Guinness) in times of stress. His friend tells him that he's inappropriately obsessed with his patient. After his sudden death, he gets the referral to Chloe Allen (Elizabeth McGovern). She's a playwright and Ted Caruso (Ron Silver) is her lead actor with diva attitude.

Back in the day, I would see this as a fine minor rom-com. Dudley Moore was a comedic genius during this time. He's only mildly humorous in this one. Sir Alec Guinness is the funnier one. I was in love with McGovern and this was cute enough for me to like.

Watching it again in my old age, the red flags are waving very wildly. I can understand falling for the adorable McGovern. Those eyes will get you. It is highly inappropriate. I agree with him when he breaks up with her finally, but the psychiatrists' dinner is a mess. There is a basic problem with this premise that makes the silly little rom-com very awkward.