Lovelife

The plus side of having cable television with a movie channel or two is that you get the opportunity to see movies you might have otherwise missed somewhere along the way. I'm talking about those charming little films that have a low budget but make up in heart what they're missing in window dressing. Lovelife ain't one of those movies. This is an overlong whine-a-thon where people give each other the shaft and can't figure out why they aren't in satisfying relationships. Pretentious and pathetic all at once, this film tries to find honor in the fact that it isn't a mainstream film, and sacrifices everything that makes a film (mainstream and otherwise) entertaining in the process. Avoid this one. It isn't even a good date movie.

When I saw the description and cast list for this movie, I didn't hold out much hope as to its quality. I expected either some ridiculous Zalman King -esque soft-porn thing or the cinematic equivalent of a sitcom. I was pleased to discover that I was wrong; this is a well-made, entertaining movie with engaging characters and great dialogue. The film focuses on the rather complicated romances of seven people living in an unnamed university town. All of the characters are interesting, but I was most fascinated by the neurotic, talkative Amy, played very convincingly by the charismatic Carla Gugino. On the whole, I found this to be a very clever, enjoyable film.

Overall Rating: 7 (out of 10), or 3 stars (out of 4)

I tried this movie simply for something to watch and really enjoyed it. I have found that I am watching movies more and more for the job the actors do rather than have heavy requirements in the other areas of a film. This one has great acting and actually doesn't need much in the way of forgiveness in any category. The story seemed very real life to me. No the scenarios don't occur everyday with so many who know or encounter each other but these things do happen. I have seen reviews where the writer is trying to pin the writer/director of Love Life into an intent to make "Friends". I didn't see that and disagree with the critic. These people don't have the years of history and friendship as a group. They are adults who are placed together by an academic institution. I will watch it again and will tell people (who probably will see me the day after they watch it) I recommend it. Give it a shot if the actors or genre appeal to you.

John Harmon Feldman, the director of this movie that we saw recently on cable, shows he can create a movie in which he has a point of view about modern relationships. In this case, Mr. Feldman concentrates in what appears to be a Los Angeles university. He shows a slice of the campus life as the young people get in love, and then they as they fail mercilessly by their new partners.

The director, who also wrote the screenplay, presents us with a merry go round of relationships that, at the beginning appear to be solid, but obviously, they didn't have a chance to survive and we watch how almost all of them disolve.

The best vignette in the film involves an older professor who likes a young woman that is living with an insufferable bore. Bruce Davidson, as the older man, and Sherilyn Fenn, is the girl who he is trying to win over, although he realizes his limitations. When this young woman is dumped, she realizes her happiness lies with the professor, who is mature enough to share his life with her. Both Mr. Davidson, and Ms. Fenn are a delight to watch.

The rest of the cast is young and attractive. Saffron Burrows, Carla Gugino, John Tenney, Matt Letscher, all make great contributions to the movie.

Although some comments in this forum are negative, the film is much better than other highly praised ones. Give it a chance to win you over.

Lovelife has to be one of the worst movies I've seen in recent years. Jon Harmon Feldman's pathetic attempt at a Woody Allen-esque romantic comedy was painfully embarrassing. Granted, some of the cast is talented, just not in this film. Matthew Letscher's character Danny was especially annoying, with every "witty" remark, I really wanted to slap this film, if only I could. I sat through it, but you don't have to.