11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :- What's A Little Sex ? 1982 Drama/Comedy/Romance, 9 September 2006
Author:
FloatingOpera7 from United States
A Little Sex (1982): Starring Tim Matheson, Kate Capshaw, John Glover,
Edward Herrmann, Joan Copeland, Susanna Dalton, Wendie Malick, Wallace
Shawn, Sharon Bamber, Betsy Aidem, Tanya Berezin, Michael Bias, Kim Von
Brandenstein, Christy Brown, Barbara Bratt, Leigh Curran, Robert Burr,
Frankie Faison, Sarah Felcher, Sharon Foote, Lisa Dunsheath, Dona
Fowler, Sam Gray, James Greene, Delphi Harrington, Frances Helm,
Carolyn Houlihan, Elva Josephson, Wayne Kell, Ann Lange, Sagan Lewis,
Merry Loomis, Renee Lippin, Ronald Maccone, Geretta Geretta, J. Frank
Lucas, Carolyn Perry, Nick Petron, Don Phillips, Isabel Price, John
Tillinger, Bill Smitrovich...Director Bruce Paltrow, Screenplay Robert
De Laurentiis.
From 1982, Director Bruce Paltrow's "A Little Sex" is not a very
well-known or even memorable film but it is without a doubt a very
well-made romantic comedy/drama about the "myth of monogamy" and the
natural inclination to cheat - and its effects on a marriage. The film
stars Tim Matheson and Kate Capshaw as Michael and Katherine, who have
enjoyed a long relationship together even before they tie the knot. But
Michael does not hide the fact he's a womanizer and sex addict,
cheating on Katherine during their pre-married relationship. Because
Katherine is genuinely in love with him, she is willing to overlook
this and believes that perhaps marriage will change things. Michael,
too, believes that marriage will change him. Sexual infidelity and
promiscuity is compared to Michael's smoking habit (and everyone
else's' smoking habits). He quits for a while when he gets married but
he cannot fight it for too long. His best friend, Tommy (Edward
Herrmann) advises him in a rather liberal-minded way and their
conversations- usually on a walk through New York City's Central Park-
are possibly the most thought-provoking part of the film. The film's
theme of a man's transformation from womanizer to monogamous husband is
well captured and despite the nearly Woody Allen Hollywood-ness, is
actually very realistic. We genuinely feel for Katherine and understand
how hurt she feels when she discovers Michael's betrayal. The film not
only boasts a fine script (courtesy of writer Robert De Laurentis), but
meaningful visuals/cinematography by Ralf D. Bode, whose depiction of
New York City at the beginning of the 1980's is not only truthful and
atmospheric, but it's part of the story itself, like a character
itself. The "irony" scenes in which Michael walks down the streets of
New York are masterful. The first of these scenes, which are not
realistic but seem to prove a point, is when he is married but finds
temptation everywhere in the ridiculous excess of women coming out of
taxi cabs, walking down the street, flirting with him, looking at him
with lust, showing him what he can no longer have and what he really
wants at this point. After he cheats on her, with Philomena (played by
Wendie Malick (Nina Von Horne from "Just Shoot Me" and a lesser-known
actress) an oboist for the New York Philharmonic, he comes to regret
it, especially because his wife has now filed for divorce. Feeling
sorry that he has lost the real love of his life in a stupid act of
meaningless sex, he walks down the same streets and this time he sees
happy couples who are deeply in love, something he now wants but cannot
have. Before this film gets too depressive- and it can seem this way,
especially with the sad look toward the end and melancholy
classical-style music by Georges Delerue- the couple are once again
drawn to each other after finally being able to put this mistake
behind. For any fan of Tim Matheson, who was actually a versatile
actor, considering he was in "Animal House" and "Up The Creek"- which
are not at the level of this film- this is real treat. Kate Capshaw is
magnificent and sympathetic. This is a moving film about innocence
lost, about finding happiness and meaning after a near lifetime of
meaningless pursuits of pleasure. This is a great film and one I highly
recommend for married couples and for dating couples.
8 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :- Entertaining and fun., 17 July 2003
Author:
THB999
A lighthearted romp that is lots of fun. Great chemistry between Tim
Matheson and Kate Capshaw. One of the early movies that launched Kate's
career. I haven't seen this film in a while and am looking forward to
seeing
it again to see Wendie Malick in one of her first roles.
9 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :- Hopelessly dated tale of love and marriage in the 1980's., 14 October 1999
Author:
Dennis Chimelis (dennis_chimelis@juno.com)
Slow moving, cliched story of a man played by Tim Matheson who beds almost
every woman he meets until the woman of his dreams (Kate Capshaw) enters
his
life. Eventually they marry but can he remain faithful to her? Of course
he can't. She responds by sleeping with an old friend, he makes a tearful
plea on his kiddie show and, well, there you go.
The problem is you just don't care. He's childish, self centered and
annoying. She is immature and, face it, pretty damned stupid to have
gotten
involved with and then marrying the guy.
"A Little Sex" is now hopelessly dated, produced at a time when casual sex
was still considered fun, liberating and relatively safe. How times have
changed.
1 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- Bad movie with some very good dialog, 16 March 2007
Author:
timmyschaumann from United States
The main character (throughout this statement referred to as Slick) was
definitely a jerk and The flick is dated as hell. His brother, though,
gave two of the best explanations of the screwed up male psyche that
I've heard (not exclusive to flicks). It kind of reminded me of Roger's
comments in "Roger Dodger"(except less biased). The lack of boobies
disturbed me because it was a rated R eighties flick. Slick's wife was
a little too much of a shrew ( nice rear upper thigh area though). The
fellow from 'The Princess Bride' (y'know, the Sicilian) in a buddy role
is great. I understand that this movie isn't great, but one has to root
for Otter and
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A Little Sex (1982)
11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-

What's A Little Sex ? 1982 Drama/Comedy/Romance, 9 September 2006
Author: FloatingOpera7 from United States
A Little Sex (1982): Starring Tim Matheson, Kate Capshaw, John Glover, Edward Herrmann, Joan Copeland, Susanna Dalton, Wendie Malick, Wallace Shawn, Sharon Bamber, Betsy Aidem, Tanya Berezin, Michael Bias, Kim Von Brandenstein, Christy Brown, Barbara Bratt, Leigh Curran, Robert Burr, Frankie Faison, Sarah Felcher, Sharon Foote, Lisa Dunsheath, Dona Fowler, Sam Gray, James Greene, Delphi Harrington, Frances Helm, Carolyn Houlihan, Elva Josephson, Wayne Kell, Ann Lange, Sagan Lewis, Merry Loomis, Renee Lippin, Ronald Maccone, Geretta Geretta, J. Frank Lucas, Carolyn Perry, Nick Petron, Don Phillips, Isabel Price, John Tillinger, Bill Smitrovich...Director Bruce Paltrow, Screenplay Robert De Laurentiis.
From 1982, Director Bruce Paltrow's "A Little Sex" is not a very well-known or even memorable film but it is without a doubt a very well-made romantic comedy/drama about the "myth of monogamy" and the natural inclination to cheat - and its effects on a marriage. The film stars Tim Matheson and Kate Capshaw as Michael and Katherine, who have enjoyed a long relationship together even before they tie the knot. But Michael does not hide the fact he's a womanizer and sex addict, cheating on Katherine during their pre-married relationship. Because Katherine is genuinely in love with him, she is willing to overlook this and believes that perhaps marriage will change things. Michael, too, believes that marriage will change him. Sexual infidelity and promiscuity is compared to Michael's smoking habit (and everyone else's' smoking habits). He quits for a while when he gets married but he cannot fight it for too long. His best friend, Tommy (Edward Herrmann) advises him in a rather liberal-minded way and their conversations- usually on a walk through New York City's Central Park- are possibly the most thought-provoking part of the film. The film's theme of a man's transformation from womanizer to monogamous husband is well captured and despite the nearly Woody Allen Hollywood-ness, is actually very realistic. We genuinely feel for Katherine and understand how hurt she feels when she discovers Michael's betrayal. The film not only boasts a fine script (courtesy of writer Robert De Laurentis), but meaningful visuals/cinematography by Ralf D. Bode, whose depiction of New York City at the beginning of the 1980's is not only truthful and atmospheric, but it's part of the story itself, like a character itself. The "irony" scenes in which Michael walks down the streets of New York are masterful. The first of these scenes, which are not realistic but seem to prove a point, is when he is married but finds temptation everywhere in the ridiculous excess of women coming out of taxi cabs, walking down the street, flirting with him, looking at him with lust, showing him what he can no longer have and what he really wants at this point. After he cheats on her, with Philomena (played by Wendie Malick (Nina Von Horne from "Just Shoot Me" and a lesser-known actress) an oboist for the New York Philharmonic, he comes to regret it, especially because his wife has now filed for divorce. Feeling sorry that he has lost the real love of his life in a stupid act of meaningless sex, he walks down the same streets and this time he sees happy couples who are deeply in love, something he now wants but cannot have. Before this film gets too depressive- and it can seem this way, especially with the sad look toward the end and melancholy classical-style music by Georges Delerue- the couple are once again drawn to each other after finally being able to put this mistake behind. For any fan of Tim Matheson, who was actually a versatile actor, considering he was in "Animal House" and "Up The Creek"- which are not at the level of this film- this is real treat. Kate Capshaw is magnificent and sympathetic. This is a moving film about innocence lost, about finding happiness and meaning after a near lifetime of meaningless pursuits of pleasure. This is a great film and one I highly recommend for married couples and for dating couples.
8 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-

Entertaining and fun., 17 July 2003
Author: THB999
A lighthearted romp that is lots of fun. Great chemistry between Tim Matheson and Kate Capshaw. One of the early movies that launched Kate's career. I haven't seen this film in a while and am looking forward to seeing it again to see Wendie Malick in one of her first roles.
9 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-

Hopelessly dated tale of love and marriage in the 1980's., 14 October 1999
Author: Dennis Chimelis (dennis_chimelis@juno.com)
Slow moving, cliched story of a man played by Tim Matheson who beds almost every woman he meets until the woman of his dreams (Kate Capshaw) enters his life. Eventually they marry but can he remain faithful to her? Of course he can't. She responds by sleeping with an old friend, he makes a tearful plea on his kiddie show and, well, there you go.
The problem is you just don't care. He's childish, self centered and annoying. She is immature and, face it, pretty damned stupid to have gotten involved with and then marrying the guy.
"A Little Sex" is now hopelessly dated, produced at a time when casual sex was still considered fun, liberating and relatively safe. How times have changed.
1 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-

Bad movie with some very good dialog, 16 March 2007
Author: timmyschaumann from United States
The main character (throughout this statement referred to as Slick) was definitely a jerk and The flick is dated as hell. His brother, though, gave two of the best explanations of the screwed up male psyche that I've heard (not exclusive to flicks). It kind of reminded me of Roger's comments in "Roger Dodger"(except less biased). The lack of boobies disturbed me because it was a rated R eighties flick. Slick's wife was a little too much of a shrew ( nice rear upper thigh area though). The fellow from 'The Princess Bride' (y'know, the Sicilian) in a buddy role is great. I understand that this movie isn't great, but one has to root for Otter and
there is some very good dialog. Scabldeboo!
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