Just One Time

There is potential here, and it shines through occasionally, but unfortunately not consistently.

Despite the fact that the ultimate effect is cute (isn't that a terrible word to describe a film?!) and charming, I found myself scratching my head once or twice about the basic premise of this sometimes enchanting little ditty. I guess Janger is trying to warn us that no fantasy lives up to the reality. OK...an age-old piece of wisdom...no arguments here, BUT he never REALLY lets his two lead characters experience their fantasies. They just seem to get lost and frustrated on the road leading up to it.

Anthony (Janger's character) wants to see his beloved fiancée, Amy (played by a very winning Jennifer Esposito), have sex Just One Time with another woman before they get married and HAVE to put their fantasies to bed. That's where the first question arises: why do married couples have to stop having fantasies? OK, small detail, let's move on...

Amy does not want to grant her beloved Anthony his somewhat cliché, pubescent, masturbatory fantasy, and tries to get around the problem by one-upping him: if he has sex with a man for her, she'll give herself to a woman for him. Now pride and egos start getting in the way of anyone calling the nonsense off. Enter Guillermo Diaz: your excuse for a romantic comedy's gay sidekick. Not to say that Mr. Diaz plays his role poorly; he's actually very winning! That said, his role is no more than a convenient plot devise: the sweet, non-threatening, virginal gay neighbor, who enters on cue, but never causes too much discomfort, either for Anthony or the viewer. Same goes for the conveniently lesbian neighbor played by Joelle Carter, who is planted there to give Amy her brush with homosexuality.

Whereas Amy at least gets a lesbian kiss of free will out of it all, before she throws up her hands and screams, "bring on the bands and ring the wedding bells", Anthony stays annoyingly heterosexual. Oh, he does have a kiss, but it's aggressive and full of anger and frustration. When he wakes up the next morning next to his token gay friend, he's horrified at the idea that something might have transpired. Thank God, his bedmate is able to clear that fright up within 30 seconds!

Actually, a rather insulting bit of tripe, but if even the more emotionally self-assured and mature homosexuals were generous enough to forgive heterosexual men their occasional lapses of taste and decorum for the sake of defending their obviously fragile manhood, then everyone might actually enjoy the 94 minutes that this film has to offer.

I just saw this film last night (10/21/00) and liked it a lot. It ain't Shakespeare, but it is a very light, sexy, independent film with likable actors/characters. I recommend it.

The plot involves an engaged couple who each trade fantasies. He has always wanted to sleep with his fiancee together with another woman. His fiancee agrees, but only if he agrees to sleep with her together with another guy. Quid Pro Quo. She is really trying to teach him a bit of a lesson, but by the end of the film, they each learn a lesson about themselves and about their relationship.

I enjoyed this movie a lot primarily b/c I liked, "I Think I Do" very much. They seemed so similar. Today I checked the Internet Movie Database and it turns out that, not coincidentally, the star/co-writer/director of this film is Lane Janger. Mr. Janger also co-produced "I Think I Do" (and gets a close-up in that film playing the bit part of a wedding bartender).

He does consistently good work.

Just One Time starts from an age-old premise - every straight boy's 'readers' wives fantasy of getting it on with two girls at the same time... Anthony is a New York firefighter engaged to Amy, the woman of his dreams, and heading for wedded bliss within the fortnight. But Anthony's a good Catholic boy, and wants to get a long-standing fantasy off his chest before settling down to a respectable future. Amy's less than thrilled by the concept of a three-way so, like the good lawyer she is, suggests a deal: she'll do same-sex but only if he will too!

A funny film, although very predictable to some extent. The fact that it has been a part of many gay and lesbian film festivals around the world does not limit the joy for straight people. This is a film for anyone who appreciates a good comedy!

Just One Time is a truly funny movie about a guy who gets a taste of his own medicine. He wants his girlfriend to have a lesbian encounter so he can watch and gratify himself. But she is disgusted by his request and leaves him to his porn magazines. Meanwhile a gay admirer of his meets his girlfriend downstairs and it has a twist ending that may not be for people who do not like homosexuals. but i laughed very hard. irony is sweet.

It's a movie like angel food cake -- light, fluffy, insubstantial, and a bit sweet. Unexpected little plot twists and some surprisingly witty dialogue make it a good accompaniment for a big bowl of popcorn on a night when you're not up for anything heavy and meaningful. Hey, sometimes you just want to laugh, and this is just the ticket.