Customer Reviews

Loving Couples [VHS]

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LOVING COUPLES is a cute little romantic comedy which is only noteworthy for it's quartet of stars (Shirley MacLaine, James Coburn, Susan Sarandon and Stephen Collins). It has a lovely musical score and a great supporting performance from Sally Kellerman as the seductive Mrs Liggett.

The plot is thin. Shirley MacLaine plays the vivacious wife of a doctor (James Coburn) who falls in love with a real-estate agent (Stephen Collins). MacLaine's husband then proceeds to have an affair with the girlfriend of Collins (Susan Sarandon).

Enjoyable fluff, elevated by it's stars, especially luminous Shirley MacLaine.

I can say that Shirley MacLaine, James Coburn, Stephen Collins, and Susan Sarandon were the highlights. Great actors who worked with what they had, which was a rather light movie. Best part of the film for me: Shirley and Stephen boogging down on the dance floor!

I am a big Stephen collin fan so I bought this DVD. I was happy to find it is a pretty good film. If you can get it for a few dollars, it is worth it.

Dr. Evelyn Lucas Kirby (Shirley MacLaine) is married to Dr. Walter Kirby (James Coburn). Their marriage has become very boring and Walter is rather self-absorbed with his medical career and his status in the medical world. When Evelyn stops to help Malibu Real Estate Agent Greg Plunkett (Stephen Collins) who has had a minor horse riding accident, he flirts with her, and like a stereotypical Real Estate Agent won't take no for an answer. He persistently woos her until she finally gives in. This causes his girlfriend, Weather Girl Stephanie Beck (Susan Sarandon), to visit Dr. Walter and complain. When her suspicions are confirmed the two commiserate over a drink, which leads to them indulging in a little revenge sex. Like changing partners in a square dance they go on this way for a while, with a little Do Si Do from Mrs. Liggett (Sally Kellerman), a rich client of Greg's, who insists on trying out the bed in a house he shows her.

I couldn't believe this movie was made in 1980 because it seems like a throwback to some mid 70's TV show like Love American Style or The Love Boat, where the announcer would pronounce the word "love" in a cutsey-wootsey way that would almost make you want to puke. Stephen Collins was a handsome but bland actor who reminded me of John Tesh, but without his devil-may-care charisma. At least Tesh had a new age music career and a fling with Oprah in his checkered past. The other three members of the two revolving couples would go on to be Oscar winners, and receive multiple nominations as well. Coburn won for Afflicted, MacLaine scored in Terms of Endearment, and Sarandon won as the nun in Dead Man Walking. Even Kellerman, who played the libidinous Mrs. Liggett, was nominated for an Oscar for playing 'Hot Lips' O'Houlihan in Robert Altman's MASH. How the mighty have fallen.

Director Jack Smight has done some decent films, but mostly works in TV, and it shows. The funniest thing about him is his name (I smite thee, Jack Smight)--like when you saw that the hair stylist on 'Leave It To Beaver' was Florence Bush. Coburn is a likeable actor, good in action roles or in spoofing them, as in Hudson Hawk, or In Like Flint--but he was 'afflicted' with a very dull character. Dr. Walter Kirby wasn't exactly the juiciest of roles for him to sink his teeth into. Kind of a stick-in-the-mud, wet blanket. Shirley was cute and perky as a neglected older woman. This was kind of a low ebb for her, but three years later she'd win her Oscar, after many nominations, for Terms of Endearment. Susan Sarandon lowered herself to the level of this film--perhaps even lower, if that is possible. She didn't really show any of her potential here.

Bottom Line is that I bought this video at the Goodwill for 75 cents, and still feel like it was a rip off. The most interesting thing about it is how much talent went into it, only to be wasted.

Postcards from the Edge (1990) Shirley MacLaine was Doris Mann
Terms of Endearment (1983) Shirley MacLaine was Aurora Greenway
Some Came Running (1958) Shirley MacLaine was Ginnie Moorehead

Affliction (1997) James Coburn was Glen Whitehouse
Hudson Hawk (1991) James Coburn was George Kaplan
The Americanization of Emily (1964) James Coburn was Lt. Cmdr. Paul 'Bus' Cummings

Igby Goes Down (2002) Susan Sarandon was Mimi Slocumb
Dead Man Walking (1995) Susan Sarandon was Sister Helen Prejean
Thelma & Louise (1991) Susan Sarandon was Louise Sawyer
The Witches of Eastwick (1987) Susan Sarandon was Jane Spofford

This is an oldie but a goodie! The type of movie that is light and fun - I saw it years ago and just loved watching it again

I think that Loving Couples was great especially b/c of the great and talented Stephen Collins who plays Greg. It was terrific movie along with other actors I never heard of, but if you are a love addict this move will get you every time.