The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped

Aaron Spelling-Leonard Goldberg TV-movie from ABC in 1974 follows a pretty predictable formula: swinging bachelor meets his match, learns a lesson in love, discovers growing up isn't a bad as he thought it would be. Richard Long is a magazine publisher celebrating the big 4-0 who doesn't think his "present" from the fellas, wisecracking Karen Valentine in a skimpy outfit, is very amusing. After trading barbs with the former beauty pageant winner, he finds they have an attraction of sorts and she sticks around. Perhaps because the writer of this teleplay was a woman (Susan Silver), Long's would-be lascivious lifestyle is frowned upon--he's the one who needs (and gets) the make-over. Still, this female point-of-view provides some interesting subtext, and when Long refuses to say "I love you" (preferring instead the all-inclusive "love ya!"), the dialogue and situations show a sensitivity that isn't always found in these television quickies. Lots of fine supporting players pop up (including Farrah Fawcett and Tom Bosley), and the low-budget isn't too distracting.

Richard Long plays Michael. He's a very successful guy and has every reason to be happy. But he's just turned 40 and is in a funk. To help him out, a co-worker (Tom Bosley...NICE Tom Bosley of all people) hire a woman (Karen Valentine) to arrive at Michael's house...gift wrapped in a bow. But Michael is no cad. Instead of a quickie, he just spends the evening talking to his 'gift' and soon the pair become friends. What he doesn't realize is that his 'gift' really likes him and would like to become more than just friends. The problem is that Michael is a very damaged guy and has serious problems with commitment and intimacy. What's next in this strange comedy-romance?!

If you grew up long ago like I did, you'll enjoy seeing all the familiar TV faces in this made for TV film. Richard Long ("The Big Valley"), Karen Valentine ("Room 222"), Farrah Fawcett ("Charlie's Angels"), Tom Bosley ("Happy Days"), Dave Madden ("The Partridge Family") and Rita Shaw ("The Ghost and Mrs. Muir") are among the familiar TV folks you'll see in this one.

So is it any good? Yes. While not among the deepest things I've ever seen, it is enjoyable and has some interesting messages about commitment and modern love.

...you'd like to see Ms. Valentine sing "Happy Birthday" and finish by dropping off her overcoat revealing her bikini-clad figure. She was something pretty cute in 1974, and I was something pretty confused at the age of 16. Her "Room 222" persona made her the ideal fantasy woman for that time and place, and this bit of absurd TV sexism gave me something I wanted. If you remember her as I do, this one scene will be worth the rental, and not purely for its prurience. It might make you feel young again, if only very briefly.

Its been 30 years since I saw this movie, but I remember it well, and seeing Karen Valentine in that bikini really made the movie for me! She has such beautiful skin tones and being so slender in the two piece bikini really made the ratings on my score board. Having her clad in those halter tops throug out the remaining part of the movie was a big bonus! I wish a sequel would have been made, but after so many years gone by I would just assume to have a re-make of this movie using an young actress of today's generation.

When you have it all, you should be happy. However, some people are not when they have it all: a good home, wealth, and happiness. For this guy, he's everything but that. He's a commitment phobe who's near 40. So when he gets a girl who's gift wrapped for his birthday. He's anything but happy. But when time passes on with her at his side, he slowly changed. He has a dog, plants, and he finally rids himself of the maid.

Five years after "The Big Valley", Richard Long has a different character from the show he was on. And Karen Valentine has a heart of gold in this movie. It would be later when "Pretty Woman" would come out to theaters. I liked it very much.

2 out of 5 stars.