Customer Reviews

Pompatus of Love [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This film starts off well, with witty dialogue and dead-on portrayals of 30 somethings dealing with the urban dating scence. After awhile, though, the film seems overlong and the characterizations run out of steam.

The guys in the film are definitely self-absorbed and verbal in a way that, upon reflection, may be particularly recognizeable to city dwellers. I wonder whether the experiences depicted here will resonate as well with non-urbanites.

Now you may wonder why i gave this movie a 5 star rating. Well... I rented it thinking it would be another "kitchy" indie movie. I was very suprised to see that this movie had a amazing plot, and the story just make me sit there for around 40 minutes after pondering love and life and all that stuff. It is an amazing movie. Well worth the 5 star. A hip love movie for the 90's

It's interesting how time creates perspective. 1970s fashion wasn't intended to be ridiculous, but it looks so today.

Likewise, THE POMPATUS OF LOVE is a cultural artifact of the 1990s, a piece of fluff from the decade after the Cold War and before 9/11, when the economy was great and Monica Lewinsky's semen-stained dress was the height of political scandal.

In such a relatively carefree decade, THE POMPATUS OF LOVE must have seemed smart and weighty, but today it's a good example of the worst of 1990s petty self-absorption. (TV's SEINFELD was likewise gripped with trivial self-absorption, but at least SEINFELD is hilarious.)

As other reviewers have noted, THE POMPATUS OF LOVE doesn't really have a story. Rather, it's a group of thirtysomething guys who hang out in bars and strip clubs, trading stories about their love lives, advising each other on the mysteries of women and relationships. Between their discussions, we intercut with scenes from their love (or loveless) lives.

Their observations are trite and very old. For instance, there's the guy who's too nice, and thus can't hold onto women. Why-oh-why do women not appreciate nice guys? he laments. (For another 1990s film with this theme, see NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE.)

There's the immature writer who drove away his lady love, because she wanted more stability. There's the married man who wonders if he should cheat around. There's the ladies man who can't commit.

Some of the women, too, offer their observations (or rather, their ramblings -- one woman admits she both wants, and doesn't want, to know about a guy's past loves, and she admits this makes no sense, but that's how she feels nonetheless).

The film meanders about like this. It's very typical 1990s indie film territory (albeit scrapings from the barrel, rather then the best of indie films). It tries to make up for its lack of plot structure or characterizations with witty observations. (Like PULP FICTION, but not so witty or inventive).

I got the sense that the characters were trying too hard, always babbling their observations on the "war between the sexes" like they were offering new insights. These men sounded like college kids, not thirtysomething guys (although, I suppose, it's all part of that 1990s petty self-absorption).

Since 9/11 and the economic meltdown of 2008, many of these 1990s quirky indie films look trite in retrospect. One might enjoy their innocence, but a lot of them won't age well -- and that certainly includes THE POMPATUS OF LOVE.

(Of course, there are some weighty 1990s indie films that hold up well -- AMERICAN JOB, HENRY FOOL, CLOCKWATCHERS, THE HOUSE OF YES.)

The Pompatus of Love is one of my all-time favorite movies. The fast paced dialogue is always entertaining, and this movie addresses an issue everybody has to face at some point: how to attain a fulfilling love life before you go crazy trying. Very funny, and with a light enough touch that it'll make you think without being cheezy. You've got to see this movie!

This movie was a great deal of fun and anyone who has ever been on a date would love it. There are many observations that cut right to the bone of modern romance.

A group of idiots hang around to chug beers and engage in "clever" conversation. The shallowness of the characters is belied by the director's resort to making a "political statement" at the end of the film. Add four stars if you're still living in the 60's. ...

The plot, dialogue and acting are the best I have seen in a long time. It's quick and quick-witted. There is not one dull scene in this entire film about men dating in the 90's. Each character is well-drawn and three-dimensional. Each of the actors are excellent and believable throughout the film. Jon Cryer is angst-ridden (as his roles often are) and again he brings a great sense of humor and warmth to the role. Adrian Pasdar portrays a "playboy-type" character but still manages to make him likeable (and also hilariously funny). Mia Sara is beautiful but her part is not large enough! This is an unusually real, yet hysterical "romp" through dating in this 90's.

Liked this movie, especially Jon Cryer. It was a good story and very real toward love in the 90's. Not a drowser. All of these guys are good, just a couple are neurotic. Recommended for those that are single and with someone.

It appears nobody has chosen to review this movie in a considerable amount of time. I don't know if the dorks in the movie ever figured out what this means, but I can shed some light on it. Between 1956-58, I forget, there was a black singer who had a soulful tune whose name I cannot remember (he may have been a one-hit wonder) but he was trying to use some expression that he did not have the intellect or education for, so he either made up something or mispronounced something and it came out "pompatus". To give it some authority, years later Wolfman Jack (you've heard of Wolfman Jack? As in the movie, "American Graffiti"?) used the expression in a song "Clap for the Wolfman" that he participated in with the Guess Who. (I saw them perform it in person). Steve Miller's use of it came later. Nobody seems sure what that guy back in the 50s meant. I can't see EVERY movie that comes out, though I did see the preview, so I took Roger Ebert's word that it sucks. Five stars, my ***.