Loverboy (1989) TriStar/Comedy RT: 98 minutes Rated PG-13 (language, sexuality, some violent content) Director: Joan Micklin Silver Screenplay: Robin Schiff, Tom Ropelewski and Leslie Dixon Music: Michael Colombier Cinematography: John Hora Release date: April 28, 1989 (US) Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Kate Jackson, Carrie Fisher, Robert Ginty, Barbara Carrera, Kirstie Alley, Nancy Valen, Dylan Walsh (as “Charles Hunter Walsh”), Bernie Coulson, Ray Girardin, Robert Camilletti, Vic Tayback, Kim Miyori, Robert Picardo, Peter Koch, E.G. Daily. Box Office: $3.9M (US)
Rating: ***
The funny thing about the comedy Loverboy is that I didn’t like it when I saw it back in ’89. I missed it at the movies so I made it a point to rent it as soon as it came out on video. I watched it with my friend Julie. She enjoyed it, I just couldn’t get into it. As I sit here writing this review, I honestly can’t remember why. I think that’s the main reason I made Loverboy one of my pandemic rewatch movies. Why didn’t I like it? What was it that turned me off? I still have no answer because I liked it this time out.
Directed by Joan Micklin Silver (Crossing Delancey), Loverboy stars Patrick Dempsey (Can’t Buy Me Love) as Randy, a college screw-up who can’t even bring himself to tell his father (Ginty, The Exterminator) that he’s been living with his girlfriend Jenny (Valen, The Heavenly Kid) for the past year. Having had enough of his slacker behavior, she breaks up with him right before summer break. Dad’s had it with him too. He cuts him off financially which means he’s forced to take a job delivering pizzas for a joint called Senor Pizza (a Mexican pizza place, hmm?). He hopes to earn the $9000 he needs to return to college in the fall so he can get back with Jenny. What’s a guy to do? Ooh, I know! He could work as a gigolo on the side, servicing all the bored horny housewives of Beverly Hills.
It starts with Alex (Carrera, Never Say Never Again), an older woman Randy meets by chance in a clothing shop. She takes an immediate interest in him and arranges for him to deliver a pie (with “extra anchovies”, a key plot point) to her hotel room. They begin a brief affair during which she gives him a few pointers on dressing stylishly and pleasuring women. She then returns to her native Italy, but not before she tells him to keep an ear out for orders with extra anchovies. Before he knows it, the shop is getting a lot of requests for extra anchovies and Randy is making money hand over fist making unhappy Beverly Hills wives feel wanted and loved.
Something like this doesn’t come without complications and misunderstandings. Let’s go over the pertinent plot points. Randy’s dad comes to believe his son is gay after a co-worker, an Italian lothario played by one-time Cher beau Rob Camilletti, delivers a gift from Alex to his house. Some of the women Randy services- Asian bride Kyoko (Miyori, The Punisher), photographer Monica (Fisher, Star Wars) and doctor Joyce (Alley, Look Who’s Talking)- have jealous husbands- Harry (Tayback, Alice), bodybuilder Claude (Koch, Heartbreak Ridge) and doctor Reed (Picardo, 976-EVIL). Of course, they want to kill the guy who’s been screwing around with their wives…. when they find out who he is, that is. Then, of course, there’s the obligatory scene where Randy is shocked to see that one of his clients is his own mother (Jackson, Charlie’s Angels). Wait until you see how he gets out of that one.
An interesting thought hit me while I was watching Loverboy. Isn’t it a little strange that it’s a PG-13 comedy aimed at teens? Wouldn’t it work better as an R-rated sex comedy for adults, something along the lines of a Blake Edwards sex farce like 10 and Skin Deep? It certainly would have given Silver a little more creative leeway. In any event, it’s pretty funny as it is. Granted, the writers fall back on cliched situations like a husband unexpectedly coming home early and the bone-headed bozo (Walsh, Betsy’s Wedding) trying to move in on Jenny. There’s also the big fancy anniversary party that turns into a free-for-all. These are all-too-familiar comedic scenarios, yet Silver manages to make it work (mostly).
The cast does a good job. Dempsey, when he was still playing teen roles, is good as Randy. How he goes from irresponsible kid with zero ambition to an adult with class and accountability is one of the movie’s best story elements. I also liked the story arc dealing with his efforts to win back his girlfriend. As Jenny, Valen is very good. I always found her endearing. She has the grace of Stacy Nelkin and the grit of Jami Gertz. It’s a perfect balance. Ginty proves he can do more than incinerate scumbags with a flamethrower. Jackson has some nice moments as Randy’s supportive mom who thinks her husband is cheating on her with his secretary (Daily, Valley Girl). Ah, yet another misunderstanding that leads to bigger problems. Really, the whole cast does a fine job. It’s a good ensemble.
When you think about Loverboy, it’s really a screwball comedy. Look at all the set-ups and nutty characters. It’s also quite funny. Not every single joke lands but enough do to make it a worthwhile viewing choice.
