Summer Lovers

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source: Summer Lovers

Publish and be damned! Okay, so this movie *is* a male fantasy, I admit it. One guy, two girls, desert island, sure that's my fantasy too. One of the girls is even French! In my fantasy, would the French girl be an archaeologist? Well, no, she'd probably have one of those French maid outfits ... So what makes this film so good after all? I could tell you about the aesthetics of Western art, that being the justification for the Greek sculpture scenes and the frequency of curvilinear, undraped forms, one blonde, one a sassy little pixie of a brunette, but you wouldn't buy it. So, seriously, why do I like this one? If you've ever wasted a summer backpacking, you'd know. No other movie really captures that carefree summer holiday feeling in a strange country, where you could get lucky, or where you could make a complete ass of yourself trying to make friends in a bar. Or on the beach. Or by the campfire. Or while riding a donkey. It's everyone's idea of a sunny Greek vacation crammed into one movie, and that 's why I just love it.

Came across this picture on Encore Love while channel surfing to Encore Westerns. I watched it out of curiosity to see if the stories I had heard about it are true. They are. The only good thing about this film is the cinematography of the Greek Isles. Otherwise, it's just a movie version of a pictorial from a men's magazine, although the script (such as it is) has a few touches of Cosmopolitan. You'll love this film if you're into soft core *, Darryl Hannah, or European brunettes. Otherwise, you'll find it boring or offensive. Note: at last report, 47% of female American college students were infected with human papilloma virus (HPV or genital warts) spread by the promiscuity that this picture celebrates.

I think most people will enjoy "Summer Lovers" as one of those lowest-common-denominator fossils of the early-'80s. A young couple vacations in Greece, ostensibly to save their rocky relationship, falling rather innocently into a sexual menage with a beautiful archaeologist. Though made by competent professionals, the movie comes off as the most basic type of low-brow movie-making imaginable, filled with flashes of peek-a-boo nudity. Some of it is truly embarrassing, although the cast is squirrelly and fun, particularly Daryl Hannah (pre-"Splash") as one of those uptight American beauties who learns to loosen up with another woman in her bed. It's a clichéd role in a clichéd movie, but Hannah has a dryly sassy way with her dialogue and nearly creates a real character. "Summer Lovers" almost manages to mask its titillation aims with an innocent, nonchalant air that is rather attractive...but you'll hate yourself in the morning for sitting all the way through it. ** from ****

I can't remember where I was when I saw summer lovers but I remember how bored I was. This was mighty different then what I heard it was, instead of a sweet love story it was kind of just-well just about nothing much. I remember how flat the story was and what poor pacing it had. Probebly the most disapointing of 80's movies of this genre-for me anyway. Now I have looked at all the positve reviews and am frankly a bit surprised but I'd be willing to give it another chance, it's possible I just didn't appreciate it back then. For me, the pace of a movie is as important as almost anything. I just remember this as sort of blah. Nice scenery aside-frankly it just bored me. Nothing here that was memorable in the slightest. I won't call this a bad movie as much as completely forgettable and not what it appeared to be. If I ever see it again I'll do another more in depth review. I had really looked forward to seeing this back in the 80's and didn't get much back in the way of entertainment.

I always believed Daryl Hannah couldn't act, but I did not know that was a talent she lost through time. Perhaps her performance here is the only thing good about this entire film. I suppose watching the film to see Daryl naked might be of some value, but it's like that Sharon Stone strategy, nudity equals popularity equals more film offers. Daryl has been in like 40 films with more planned for 2000. I just still believe a film should have a good story to go along with all it's other positive traits or it's still a flop. Here you have a beautiful paradise filmed entirely in Greece, including the city of Crete, then you have Daryl Hannah's only halfway decent performance to date, finally there is plenty of gratuitous nudity and BANG it still bombs. Since most video stores still have what is sometimes referred to as shelf movies, it's probably OK to shell out a buck fifty to see it. Also who is Peter Gallagher & Valérie Quennessen? I had no idea Peter Gallager had been in so many films. I never heard of him before but he too has film plans for 2000 with about 50 film and TV credits already to his name. As for Valérie Quennessen this was her last film, she died 7 years later in a car accident. I have no idea if she had any other movie plans, but 7 years would have been a long break if she did.

I was in my senior year of college when I saw this picture and had bought round trip tickets to France before I had seen this. It was my intention to go to France, Italy, Germany, the Greek Isles as my "Europe" adventure before entering the "great big world" of responsibility. After seeing this picture, I cancelled my trip and wondered how movies got greenlighted. Yes, I saw this as a total "guy" light * fantasy film...lovely locals...two women...two willing women...better yet: one blonde one brunette...one foreign...one familiar...lots of abandon...lots of freedom...to me it equaled: lots of boredom. Now, many guys who have seen this film and are reading my little view will think.."ah, she's just saying this cause she's jealous". No, I'm reviewing this movie as the crap that it is. If it were done as a foreign film, it may have been more interesting and involving for men and women alike. Instead it looked like a film that some hollywood guy who had lotsa ties put together in hopes we would all accept what would go on in his mind as reality and sexual responsibility would play a huge role in how one chooses casual partners. Little did the folks who did this know that HIV and AIDS were bubbling and fantasy is just that...fantasy. But I have to admit the best parts of this film to me was seeing Hans van Tongeren in a short part because I loved him in "Spetters"...so I thought his career and notice was on the rise here in America (later I found out he died, what a tragedy!!!) and the song "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago which turned out to be a big hit of that time since their career was ALMOST forgotten until this. Other than that, unless your a guy in his house -- alone -- with no date -- on a Saturday Night and nothing else better to do, Summer Lovers wont appeal very much to you.

I really loved this movie. I watched it by accident one night, I usually only watch horror movies.I felt really good after watching this movie. The characters really get to you and you almost feel the emotions they are having. I thought Darrell Hannah was beautiful as always and the location was beautiful as well.The type of story was offbeat and not the usual boring love story.I also liked the odd sorts of people that show up during the film.It is a great movie to watch on a rainy day or late at night.I would never have thought to watch the movie by the title so do not let the name fool you. It is a movie I can watch over and over.

Roger Ebert likes to say (paraphrased) that it's not what a movie's about, but rather how it goes about it. Often so, especially in retread after retread that go by every year, but with Summer Lovers it's the reverse, because there's really very little to compare it to. This is a film that struggles with limited (but attractive) talent, flamboyantly uneven direction and bad editing. What's worse, a film has to often use dialog in place of looks and feelings that take place and have meaning in a relationship, but that are lost to the observer, and the dialog here often fails. But at the same time, Summer Lovers doesn't blink when looking into freedom of the body, and freedom in relationships. Some look at this as fantasy, but indeed there are a lot of people who have made the one-way trip down that rabbit hole and can understand what this film's really about. I give it an E for Effort. I like it better for having failed in its ambition than having succeeded in a lesser attempt. It's definitely not for the uptight, but if you're sitting around some day in an expansive frame of mind, wondering if you're getting everything out of your life that you ought to, then maybe rent this one and have an enjoyable afternoon thinking about the possibilities.