Lightweight but occasionally rude, "Friends & Lovers" is an unwitty, unfunny sex farce set in Park City, Utah, where six "best friends" gather to have fun and pair up romantically. The generic title is appropriate as the unbearably ordinary, upbeat 1990s characters deal with minor crises built around personal foibles and agendas.
This Lions Gate limited release won't fare well in the crowded theatrical marketplace, but its ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Stephen Baldwin and Claudia Schiffer should help writer-director George Haas' feature debut resurface as a moderately successful video release.
Most of the jokes are stale and the characters are free of major problems, with the exception of an unmarried pregnant woman. But they all have hang-ups about sex and relationships. The brief setup is complicated by the reluctance of Ian George Newbern) to visit his father (David Rasche), a widower who lives in Park City and wants to get close to his son again.
Led by Jon (Baldwin) and Lisa (Alison Eastwood), Ian's friends invite themselves to the cabin for a weekend of skiing. A photographer with a mild macho attitude and screw loose, Jon brings along Carla (Schiffer), who is initially cool to his advances. Lisa hitches a ride with grumpy Keaton (Neill Barry) and his with-child sister Jane (Suzanne Cryer). The group is rounded out by nerdy, virginal David (Danny Nucci).
On the way to Utah, Jon and Carla encounter kooky, German-accented skier Hans (Downey). They give him a ride, and Carla responds to his enthusiastic flirting before Jon kicks him out of the car. Eventually all are gathered in the roomy abode of Ian's father, all except Ian who has abundant anger over feelings of neglect.
The juvenile humor of Jon's predicting the size of Carla's nipples, leading to a scheme by the boys to get the girls to reveal their naked bodies, climaxes in a "Boogie Nights"-like shot of Barry's well-endowed character. But beyond this graphic shot for a nervous laugh, the movie gets bogged down in countless minor skirmishes and dalliances that eventually have to be resolved in the seemingly endless finale.
There's only superficial tension as Jon grows more frustrated at Carla taking up with Hans, while there's a desperate abandon to the coming together of Ian and Jane. Lusty Lisa puts the moves on Keaton. The three women egg on gay David to approach a snowboarder (Leon). Much screwing ensues, while Ian and his pop patch things up with the help of the latter's new love (Ann Magnuson).
Along with the bland writing, dreadful score and serviceable filmmaking, the performances are uninspiring. Over-the-top Downey gets the most laughs, while Cryer ("Wag the Dog") has a sobbing scene and overall intensity that stands out in this crowd.
FRIENDS & LOVERS
Lions Gate Films
C.E.O. Films presents
a Josi W. Konski production
in association with Laguna Entertainment
Writer-director: George Haas
Producer: Josi W. Konski
Executive producer: Gregory Cascante
Director of photography: Carlos Montaner
Production designer: Ren Blanco
Editor: Barry Leirer
Costume designer: Diane Kranz
Music: Emilio Kauderer
Casting: Mike Fenton, Allison Cowitt
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jon: Stephen Baldwin
David: Danny Nucci
Ian: George Newbern
Lisa: Alison Eastwood
Carla: Claudia Schiffer
Jane: Suzanne Cryer
Keaton: Neill Barry
Hans: Robert Downey Jr.
Richard: David Rasche
Snowboarder: Leon
Katherine: Ann Magnuson
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
This Lions Gate limited release won't fare well in the crowded theatrical marketplace, but its ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Stephen Baldwin and Claudia Schiffer should help writer-director George Haas' feature debut resurface as a moderately successful video release.
Most of the jokes are stale and the characters are free of major problems, with the exception of an unmarried pregnant woman. But they all have hang-ups about sex and relationships. The brief setup is complicated by the reluctance of Ian George Newbern) to visit his father (David Rasche), a widower who lives in Park City and wants to get close to his son again.
Led by Jon (Baldwin) and Lisa (Alison Eastwood), Ian's friends invite themselves to the cabin for a weekend of skiing. A photographer with a mild macho attitude and screw loose, Jon brings along Carla (Schiffer), who is initially cool to his advances. Lisa hitches a ride with grumpy Keaton (Neill Barry) and his with-child sister Jane (Suzanne Cryer). The group is rounded out by nerdy, virginal David (Danny Nucci).
On the way to Utah, Jon and Carla encounter kooky, German-accented skier Hans (Downey). They give him a ride, and Carla responds to his enthusiastic flirting before Jon kicks him out of the car. Eventually all are gathered in the roomy abode of Ian's father, all except Ian who has abundant anger over feelings of neglect.
The juvenile humor of Jon's predicting the size of Carla's nipples, leading to a scheme by the boys to get the girls to reveal their naked bodies, climaxes in a "Boogie Nights"-like shot of Barry's well-endowed character. But beyond this graphic shot for a nervous laugh, the movie gets bogged down in countless minor skirmishes and dalliances that eventually have to be resolved in the seemingly endless finale.
There's only superficial tension as Jon grows more frustrated at Carla taking up with Hans, while there's a desperate abandon to the coming together of Ian and Jane. Lusty Lisa puts the moves on Keaton. The three women egg on gay David to approach a snowboarder (Leon). Much screwing ensues, while Ian and his pop patch things up with the help of the latter's new love (Ann Magnuson).
Along with the bland writing, dreadful score and serviceable filmmaking, the performances are uninspiring. Over-the-top Downey gets the most laughs, while Cryer ("Wag the Dog") has a sobbing scene and overall intensity that stands out in this crowd.
FRIENDS & LOVERS
Lions Gate Films
C.E.O. Films presents
a Josi W. Konski production
in association with Laguna Entertainment
Writer-director: George Haas
Producer: Josi W. Konski
Executive producer: Gregory Cascante
Director of photography: Carlos Montaner
Production designer: Ren Blanco
Editor: Barry Leirer
Costume designer: Diane Kranz
Music: Emilio Kauderer
Casting: Mike Fenton, Allison Cowitt
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jon: Stephen Baldwin
David: Danny Nucci
Ian: George Newbern
Lisa: Alison Eastwood
Carla: Claudia Schiffer
Jane: Suzanne Cryer
Keaton: Neill Barry
Hans: Robert Downey Jr.
Richard: David Rasche
Snowboarder: Leon
Katherine: Ann Magnuson
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 4/16/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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