Theme Song:
“I Know There’s Something Going On” by Frida plays during an overlong dance montage.
This song is unfairly overlooked. Phil Collins production was in peak form during this time period and really shines here. Listen to that snare! This song should be on every compilation of ‘80s music ever because it fucking smokes.
There are also three songs by OXO in this movie, including their hits, “Whirly Girl,” and “My Ride.” The bassist from OXO is the subject of Frank and Cindy, an excellent documentary. You should stop reading this pointless review and watch that film now.
Interesting Dated References: The most minor of physical handicaps (a very slight limp supported by a leg brace) being so physically appalling to 80% of the human population that they whisper to each other about it in hushed tones.
Social Context: There may have been some bold subtext to this script related to the treatment of the disabled in the pre-Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) era, but all that is totally lost as the main character’s malady appears so insignificant on screen.
Summary: Well-trained flautist Susan Berlanger (Kristy McNichol, Little Darlings, Two Moon Junction) has it in her head that the entire world is fixated on, and disgusted by, her disability. When Susan was young she had encephalitis, which resulted in a lifelong handicap of one of her legs, requiring a brace that manifests in a VERY slight limp. The camera repeatedly pans and zooms in on her leg when she’s walking as people recoil and gasp.
All Susan does is complain about men who are disgusted with her limp, yet only one of her three suitors seems put-out by it. One of the guys lovingly carries her around and she still is so distraught about her love life she decides to take a gig touring Europe. Once there, she decides to cancel some tour dates, have a cast put on her leg by an unethical doctor, and go undercover at a ski resort since there are a lot of people in casts there, so says an advertisement she saw.
No longer perceived as chronically disabled (and apparently not bothered by the fact that her solution to people’s shallowness was to be even more shallow), Susan comes alive on the dance floor (in her cast) during a 45-minute dance sequence in which filmmakers decided it was a great idea to let 5 LONG SONGS play in their entirety, complete with fade-outs, during which the action on the dance floor does not pause whatsoever.
She then sleeps with a young skier named Steve, but decides that’s not scandalous enough, and moves on to the photographer who has been following her around, snapping candids.
As it turns out, the photographer, Peter (Michael Ontkean, Slap Shot, “Twin Peaks”) has a girlfriend named Bobbie (Alexandra Paul, American Nightmare, “Baywatch”) who he immediately dumps, and within like five minutes is madly in love with Susan, to the point of talking about traveling the world with her.
Eventually Susan panics, ends things, gets her cast removed, and boards a train home (or to an airport, we can assume). Then she sees Peter, he sees her brace and becomes aroused, they embrace, and remark about heading back to America together.
Worth Mentioning:
– It would seem the takeaway from this movie is that even when there are people around willing to accept you for who you are, it’s best to disregard them, pretend your issues don’t exist, lie and be phony, and then once you lure someone else into the ruse, reveal your true self.
– Lance Guest (Halloween II, The Last Starfighter, Jaws: The Revenge) plays Jack, the answering service worker who gets scared off by Susan’s brace.
– Robert Carradine (the Nerd films) plays Sam, the American guy who was absolutely in love with Susan, so she treated him like he wasn’t good enough.
Poster and Box Art: The U.S. poster has a nice example of photo/airbrush coloring.
Aside from the odd finger placement, this is a nice, soft treatment, which was also used on the home video release, although with many more ‘80s-style embellishments.
Bonus points for the nice type treatment on the home video release.
45 min? Thats so insane i need to see this garbage