Customer Reviews

About Last Night... [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Based on David Mamet's play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" this movie, starring Rob Lowe and a young Demi Moore, is a particular favorite of mine. It's an involving and at times searing portrayal of the relationship between two people in 1980s Chicago and the interactions and problems that relationship causes them in their existing friendships.
First we have Rob Lowe as Danny, a salesman with dreams of one day owning his own restaurant and his best friend Bernie (played for almost comic relief by James Belushi). One night he meets in a bar the beautiful Debbie (played by Moore who has never looked more attractive) and her best friend and roommate Joan (played by Elizabeth Perkins).
After a rather shaky beginning Danny and Debbie are soon off on a whirlwind romance that eventually leads to Debbie moving into Danny's apartment and the two inadvertently ignoring their friends (much to the chagrin of both Bernie and Joan).
Of course trouble is soon brewing as Danny has to forsake his rather player lifestyle and Debbie wants more commitment than he is willing, or able to offer. The movie follows the ups and downs in the relationship and leaves the viewer really rooting for the two of them to work out their differences. It's hard to exactly figure out what it is that this movie does right. t seems to have a perfect blend of comedy, drama, passion and sorrow that makes for some compelling viewing. This movie would almost be required viewing for young adults as a precautionary tale if it were not for the gratuitous nudity (has Demi Moore ever had more topless scenes in any one picture?) and scenes of a drunk Danny spiraling down into despair.
This is a true gem of a movie and probably one of the best date movies ever. The DVD is a little thin on special features but at under $10 this is a must-own.

Arguably, ABOUT LAST NIGHT was not only one of the best date movies to come out of the 1980's but also it's simple story of boy-meets-girl in the modern age is one terrific romance. Rob Lowe (at the peak of his preeniness) and Demi Moore (at the birth of her true beauty) fall in and out and back in love, with Elizabeth Perkins and Jim Belushi along for the ride ... and they almost steal the film. One great shooting script of the play SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO and terrific locations, ABOUT LAST NIGHT is a film that I'll always cherish.

I was in law school when I saw this flick with my girlfriend at the time, Joanne. Jo and I had been going steady two years, and were getting pretty serious. We were even talking about getting married.

I thought that the film was a real hoot, great lines. I came out of the film in a bouyant mood. But on the way home Jo was quiet, brooding. She asked me to pull over because she had to tell me something.

She said that she always wanted a guy like Danny Martin (Rob Lowe ) but instead she got me, a guy who was way too much like Bernie Litko(Jim Belushi). She said she wasn't willing to settle for a Bernie Litko, and she told me it was over.

She wanted Rob Lowe, and that was that.

I admit that other of my friends told me that I reminded them of Bernie, and I have to say that I look vaguely like Jim Belushi, but still it hurt.

I married an Armenian who looks like a duskier version Demi Moore. Jo married a busdriver who looks like a somewhat mangled version of Rob Lowe.

It was a fateful evening.

Good flick, though.

If you invite a date over for a movie, About Last Night is a great choice. Rob Lowe & Demi Moore just gave their dedication in this movie about love and understanding, relationships and commitments. Great body chemistry of the couple. Whewww! Some hot dish that Rob & Demi. The movie stirs so many emotions which makes it entertaining, not boring. When Rob & Demi are not making love, James Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins, both good friends of the couple, fills in the gap with their sarcastic humor. Nonetheless, the movie is great for young couples to draw close with their partners. The DVD is great.

For me this is best and most truthful date film of the 80's. Being from Chicago everything just rings true. I always thought the film makers did a great job of adapting a David Mamet play into an 80's comerical date movie, while leaving in some of Mamet's complex wording in the dialogue.

Everytime I see this film it makes me miss my wild days in Chicago during the 80's. Ahhhh the memories....

Most of the other reviews have nailed it when they say that this is a realistic look at relationships and dating. The haristyles have changed, Rob and Demi have grown up, and the fashion is seriously dated, but the theme, and the sheer believability of this couple stands the test of time.

In some ways this is a movie of cliches. Danny (Lowe) is a commitment phobic former womanizer, Debbie (Demi) is emotional and falls in love fast. Their respective best friends are resentful/jealous of their relationship. But hey, cliches are cliches for a reason, and all these characters will feel familiar, not so much because you've seen them before in the movies, but because you'll likely recognize in them friends of your own.

In many ways the story is the same as all the rest -- Boy meets Girl, Boy Gets Girl, Boy loses Girl (can't say anymore -- don't wanna spoil the ending). But this is the rare movie which actually picks up where the others leave off -- it's not about how the two come together in this big crazy world, it's about whether they can stay together in this big, crazy world.

If you miss any great 80s movies, make sure this is not one of them. Highly Recommended.

This movie is one of my favorites. It stands against the Blues Brothers as a movie where the city of Chicago is actually a character in the film. Moreover, one of the songs from the movie says that falling in love is easy, but staying in love is hard. Sorry, I can't remember which song, and that is paraphrasing, but that is what this film is all about to me. If you've ever fallen in love and then had some hard times trying to keep it going, this film is for you. I agree with the other reviewers that said that what makes this work is the chemisty and acting ability of Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, while Jim Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins have characters that keep it funny and keep the perspective of how your friends add or subtract to any relationship you might be in. I think this movie is for anyone who has ever been in a relationship that worked or didn't.

This was one of the few films of the 80's in which the style actually met the substance. "About Last Night..." is enjoyable enough for the mid-80's pastel decors and slick Chicago locales and cinematography, not to mention an INCREDIBLE adult contemporary soundtrack and SHEENA EASTON theme song, "So Far, So Good." However, the plot is the true draw of repeat viewings. I never saw the play from which this screenplay was adapted, so I can't compare, but I would not call this film "watered down" in the least. In fact, this was probably one of the "meatier," realistic plots of the entire 1980's, and this is the best example of Demi Moore's acting skill I have witnessed.

Moore and Lowe meet, and both play slightly manipulative head games on one another to keep their detachment intact. As they slowly fall in love and reveal more of themselves to one another, each becomes more afraid of the vulnerability each experiences. While both want to continue the relationship, an unintentional power struggle begins, and as with many youthful relationships, no one can establish when it started or by whom. Moore's character wants to be closer, but fears smothering Lowe. Lowe just wants things to go along like they are without really "thinking" about it that much. She analyzes, he doesn't: the whole girl/guy "Venus/Mars" scenario begins.

Elizabeth Perkins and James Belushi are great as the best friend of each main character. In their individual bitter loneliness, each "friend," in the NAME of friendship, manages more to erode confidence in the relationship than support each friend. This works out wonderfully for each "friend" when the couple breaks up, allowing each "friend" to have their best buddy back to spend all their time with them instead. This kind of vulturous manipulation is rarely addressed and it is good to see it addressed in this movie.

The split comes from lack of effective communication instead of lack of love. Lowe's character takes the relationship for granted and makes an extremely careless error in judgement, deeply hurting Moore's character. Only much later, after sorting out his own issues, does he realize what he has tossed away and grieves for his choices and their results.

When trying to persuade Moore to take him back, unconvincingly in "me" guy-speak, she reminds him, "but you HAD love and you didn't WANT it. You threw it away....get on with your LIFE!" He goes on and she goes on (amazingly, without a Celine Dion theme song) and their lives evolve seperately. Eventually, they come to an understanding that both had different expectations of what the relationship would be like, based on seperate, inaccurate influences. Communication begins and how it develops is left to the viewer's imagination.

Couples should be mandated to watch this film at the beginning of a relationship as a "how-to/how-not-to" guide. It might just save everyone a lot of time, pain, and regret along the way...

I can't believe I've only just seen this movie for the first time. SUCH a realistic insight into first (real) love and what living together must be like. My favorite aspect was how it portrays the strain that being in a relationship puts on your friendships. I liked it even more than the John Hughes movies of that era because of it's realism-Hughes would sometimes sacrifice the truth for a joke. The only part I found unrealistic was the ending-too Hollywood, considering the rest of the movie had an independent film feel (hence the four stars rather than five).
Rob Lowe and a very flat-chested Demi Moore give spot-on performances. Elizabeth Perkins is hilarious as the best friend. Fantastic writing based on a Mamet Play. A must see. Definitely made me think twice about living with someone too early in a relationship.

This is an old favorite from my college days. I hadn't seen it in a while and watched it the other day and still really enjoyed it. It is a good story about dating and love and the complications that seem to always come with it. Jim Belushi gives excellent balance to Rob Lowe as his brutish crude buddy. This movie is still good and still holds up even today.