Justin's Rating: How about dinner and a movie?
Justin's Review: By now you probably have gleaned from my reviews that I'm sensative to being depressed by movies. To sum it up: I don't like it muchly. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say most people aren't particularly thrilled to leave a theater needing serious medication. Depressing with a point, a moral, perhaps I can condone. Having a down ending just to provoke an emotion in me, well, that's pretty low.

I'm on a Janeane Garafolo kick, on a quest to see pretty much every movie she's been in (including bit parts and maybe even Copland). Her combination of biting sarcasm, self-depreciating cuteness, and more than decent acting have drawn me to her ever since I saw the classic The Truth About Cats And Dogs. Sweethearts, a 1996 release that is now only making it to the video shelves, came to my attention by seeing a preview on a recent rental. Looked good: A somewhat normal guy gets set up with a mentally-unbalanced Garafolo on a date that primarily takes place in a small coffee bar (run by the interesting stand-up comic Margaret Cho). The previews, and indeed the first half of the movie, showed incredible promise in both the dialogue and romance departments.

As a bipolar manic-depressive, Jasmine (Garafolo) goes through enormous mood swings and plays mind games with unprepared nice guy Arliss. They have some pretty good conversations about dating expectations, fear of water, and general requirments for birthday presents. I was having fun; unorthodox romances are pretty much the only ones I'll stomach these days.

Then, in a twist of true cinematic horror, the filmmakers turn off the comedy valve and then turn on the depressing drama. Sure, true life manic-depressives are not always quirky fun and sometimes have a hard time dealing with the most ordinary of things. MRFH Lesson #1: True Life does not always equal Interesting and Filmworthy. In a nutshell, Jasmine has a gun and a deathwish. Yay! Arliss inexplicably goes from fearing her and wishing for his escape from the date to loving and trying to save her. Yay!

I don't know what more to say here. I'd almost recommend this movie, but I'd be afraid you would take it personally and come for my skull when you lose all hope to live. The sermon and warning have been served, you may go your way.

The Movie Store!
Sweethearts: Movie [VHS]

If you liked this movie, try these:
The Truth About Cats and Dogs