Más allá de la terapia

Christopher Durang's off-Broadway play BEYOND THERAPY was a triumph, and Durang himself worked with director Robert Altman to bring it to the screen. The result is a truly remarkable film--beautifully played by a first-rate cast, quick paced, provocative, romantic, and very, very funny--that is frequently attacked for not being a line-for-line translation of the stage original.

Unlike some Altman films, BEYOND THERAPY actually offers storyline. When Prudence and Bruce (Julie Hagerty and Jeff Goldblum) meet for a blind date the result is disastrous--not surprising, when Bruce casually notes that he is bisexual and living with lover Bob (Christopher Guest.) Prudence and Bruce rush back to their therapists (Tom Conti and Glenda Jackson, respectively) for advice... but their therapists are nuttier than they are, and soon they, Bob, Bob's mother Zizi (Genevieve Page), and the entire waitstaff of a French restaurant are dragged into the fray.

Durang's script adaptation and Altman's wall-of-sound take on it is wickedly funny, and so many memorable lines ("My mother is NOT a transvestite!") bounce through the film that the effect is absolutely dizzying; the sound design is also memorable for the constant car crashes and china shattering that occurs in the background, a metaphor for collision of characters happening before our eyes. The entire cast is absolutely first rate (Hagerty, Goldblum, and Guest have never been better), and Altman guides them with a very sure hand.

Altman's vision always divides viewers: you either like his films or you do not. Although BEYOND THERAPY offers a relatively small cast in a cohesive story, it is actually one of Altman's most visually and aurally kaleidoscopic films, and it is unlikely to convert those who find his style confusing and frustrating. But that said, this is a must-have film for any Altman fan, a truly enjoyable romantic comedy with a razor sharp script and a joyous style. Strongly, strongly recommended.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

"Beyond Therapy", much like Brian De Palma's "Bonfire Of The Vanities" which I also watched recently, was a huge critical and commercial flop by a top-rank American director, a few years before their careers took an upward turn. And also like "Bonfire", it is not a film without interest. It is an extremely eccentric "romantic comedy": from the first frame to the last, there is not one "normal" character or scene in the movie. It does not succeed (the slow-motion shootout parody sequence misses badly), but it's certainly an original (I liked the occasional random sound effects of car crashes somewhere in the background), and Julie "Airplane" Hagerty still has her special brand of kooky charm. **1/2 out of 4.

Whoever thought of bringing Christopher Durang and Robert Altman together has never mixed oil with water. Never have two artists been more obviously mismatched. Altman creates dark little moody set pieces, and moves at his own leisurely (and idiosyncratic) pace; Durang's fast little funny script practically begs for a crackling speed-thru, and this movie goes on forever. Still, if you're not familiar with Durang or if you can watch this without any preconceived notions, there are some very funny moments, and Christopher Guest, as always, is priceless.

I like Altman 's movies "the player""Short cuts " "Gosford park" , etc. But I watched this movie in his premiere in Spain ages ago and it was a comedy( so the promotion said) , so the movie poster said and a comedy for intelligent people bla bla bla This movie is not funny at all , the dialog have no spark , you don't care about the characters at all and I remember I did not laugh in all the movie . If you ever go to a comedy and did not laugh at all you will understand what I'm talking about. It's like torture . Altman is an amazing director, he is capable of making great movies like "The Player " or incredible flops like this one .

Jeff Goldblum plays a charismatic bisexual man living with his insecure gay lover (Christopher Guest) while also pursuing a relationship with the neurotic Julie Hagerty. Guest resents having to share his boyfriend with a woman, and both Goldblum and Hagerty are under the dubious care of psychiatrists who spend more time indulging their own carnal affair than treating their patients. The film follows a few chaotic days in their lives.

I usually enjoy Robert Altman's films, but 'Beyond Therapy' is a trainwreck. There are glimpses of a worthwhile movie here, but the direction sabotages it at every turn. The sets feel stagey and artificial, Altman leans too heavily on roving camera shots outside of windows, the music frequently drowns out dialogue, and an overlong slow-motion sequence-meant to be comical, I think-comes off as idiotic.

The script is just as weak. The plot is barely there, riddled with logic gaps, and capped off with a finale that feels completely disconnected from the climax. The female characters are homophobic, the male characters are chauvinistic, and none of them are particularly likable - a real travesty, given the strong performances. As a gay man who lived through the '80s, I can't say I was shocked by the bad characterizations, but younger viewers might find them outright offensive. I haven't seen the play that this was adapted from, so I can't comment on what Altman did to Christopher Durang's material, but allegedly, he heavily revised it.

The only reason to watch 'Beyond Therapy' is for the cast. Goldblum is effortlessly charming, Hagerty plays her role to the hilt, and Guest adds some much-needed depth to a stereotypical character. If you're looking for an Altman film that treats LGBT themes with more dignity, seek out 'Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.' And if you just want an absurd sex farce, 'Pajama Tops' is just as dated-but at least it manages to be funny more often than not.