Reviews

In the big picture of this little film, it's a minor but glaring anachronism -- Kevin's sideburns and soul patch. The film is set at the end of 1981, not 1991. Only Dizzy Gillespie sported a soul patch in 1981. It reminds me of when Chachi (Scott Baio) sported feathered hair in the late 50's on Happy Days. And with all the blond babes Baio has dated, has he ever bedded Love?

Still, it is a pleasant surprise to watch Courtney Love play a slut for a change. However, Elvis is too old to play Elvis. And Casey Affleck outshines his more famous bro, "the bartender/yuppie", which brings up the question of the use of the "Y" word. The word "Yuppie" first appeared in print (in an article in the Chicago Tribune) in May, 1982. However, the word may have already enjoyed street usage.

I too find it hard to believe that this film was EVER found erotic or titilating. Its sense of place (NYC) is clichéd. The art direction is adequate but unremarkable. The abuse of whispered dialog was affected and annoying. I feel Rourke's considerable talents were under-utilized and Basinger was simply scenery. Hell, they even made extensive use of a body double for many of her "exposure" scenes!! I never believed for a second that she was really an art gallery owner. Her character lacked a sense of sophistication one would expect of a person of that world. And the "drag" scene -- how utterly ridiculous. Take the empty fashion/style mannerisms of "American Gigilo" and combine the music video aesthetics and body double practices of "Flash Dance", with perhaps a faint, rancid whiff of "Last Tango in Paris"... better yet, just find a copy of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf."

Since Hollywood has ravenously consumed nearly every "classic" television series and regurgitated them into "big screen" treatments, time has come for "lost" series and failed pilots to become adapted for film.

I became a fan of "Square Pegs" when it was playing in re-run in 1986-87. I was particularly fond of Sarah Jessica Parker as the "ugly duckling" -- you just knew she was a thinly veiled babe waiting to bust out. And speaking of babes, Jamie Gertz ("Still Standing") is hotter than 20 years ago!! Yikes!

In a better, more original, "alternative" universe, "Square Pegs",not "Saved by the Bell", would have ran for 4 or 5 years and be available on DVD. The good die young.