Chasse à coeurs

Cross My Heart has Martin Short and Annette O'Toole as a pair of thirty somethings now on their third date. The film explores the issue of the fine line between putting your best foot forward to make an impression and how easily that can cross over into lying. Both Short and O'Toole are guilty of that.

With O'Toole it's a sin of omission, she hasn't brought up the fact that she does have a small daughter thinking that it can and has before scared away some potential serious involvement. Short doesn't want her to know he's been laid off and his prospects aren't looking good at the moment.

In fact Short really puts on the dog for this all important third date, borrowing friend Paul Reiser's car and apartment. In the end it's a lesson in love and honesty.

Cross My Heart was Martin Short's attempt at being a traditional leading man and he just falls way short no pun intended of being a romantic figure. I liked him a whole lot better in Captain Ron or The Three Amigos. This is just not his cup of tea.

David Morgan (Martin Short) and Kathy (Annette O'Toole) are going on their third date. They like each other but both are hiding something. Kathy is consulted by her sister Nancy (Joanna Kerns) about not yet revealing her young daughter Jessica. David just got fired from his job. His friend Bruce Gaynor (Paul Reiser) offers him the use of his new car and apartment. The date starts off badly with the car getting stolen.

This is mostly a two-hander in an apartment. The story is a bit of hit-and-miss. The dialog could be sharper. The directions are simple. This is all about the charms of Short and O'Toole. They are an endearing couple. It's worthwhile to see this for their fans.

Dating is a heck hole, and this movie prooves it. I think the story is great since everyone has been there, and the acting is real, so you don't feel that these people are just examples in some Lifetime film. I would of given it a higher rating except that during the middle, it slows down, and makes a person lose interest. So, if you are going to see it, try fast forwarding through the middle for full enjoyment, because not only will you miss the boredom, but you also won't have to see Martin Short naked.

I realize that Annette O'Toole has had a respectable career, but why didn't she get to be a megastar? She is beautiful, funny, sexy, hot, radiant and not totally unattractive!! Yikes!! She gives the most natural performance I have ever seen in a romantic comedy. And even more shocking, is matched (almost) step for step by Martin Short. After seeing this, that Jiminy Glick shtick is way beneath him. As for the movie, it is an admittedly talky, mainly one set, two character affair, but that's the fun. Crackling, witty dialogue lets the character's (and actor's) personalities shine through (i.e. "my impersonation of Montgomery Clift"). With brief, but yeoman support from Paul Reiser, this is an underrated gem. And did I mention that Annette O'Toole is breathtakingly gorgeous!!! The original movie version's nudity is something to be remembered, but handled so well that it plays much better than the edited for TV versions. Either way, this is entertainment as likable as it gets.

It's one of those dialogue-heavy, single night movies that's not quite as clever or funny as the filmmakers think it is. A big problem with the arc of the story is the lies generated between the two leads are a bit too big, so forgiveness is a stretch.

Thankfully, it's not a total bust. Short and O'Toole are good here, and the movie is able to coast along on their chemistry.