Right out of the chute, I have to tell you-- this is one scary movie. That's right, scary. I mean, to think that there are people running around out there in the world who actually think this kind of inane prattle is `funny' is downright frightening. And if anything about `Love Stinks,' directed by Jeff Franklin, reflects real life in even some remote, unimaginable way, then please stop the world, I wanna get off. This is a one note movie about a television sitcom writer named Seth (French Stewart), who gets involved with a woman, Chelsea (Bridgette Wilson), with marriage on her mind and him in her sights. She wants to, he doesn't, and that's about it; one note, and even at that, it's out of tune. Unfortunately, what the makers of this movie would pass off as humor is no laughing matter; it's merely a no-joke display of mean-spiritedness and bad acting that is-- at it's best moments-- infantile, gross and disgusting. Comedy, of course, is the most subjective of genres, and individual tastes and sensibilities will weigh in heavily in regards to how this movie will be received. But to anyone with half a brain and any self-respect whatsoever, being subjected to ninety minutes or so of this would have to be considered nothing less than cruel and unusual punishment. Suffice to say that after this debacle, director Franklin will not be making the Hollywood `A' list anytime soon. Nor the `B,' `C,' `D' or `F' lists. The good news for him is that whatever project he takes on next couldn't possibly turn out any worse than this, and that means he's only got one way to go from here, and that's up. As far as the performances go, French Stewart-- who obviously went into this with his eyes wide open-- had better hope that `Third Rock From the Sun' lasts, well...forever. Because if this is the best he can manage after the jump-start his career's received from TV, he'd be well advised to take the `Rock' money and run. And Bridgette Wilson? What on earth could've possessed her to take this part? With her talent and looks this is the best she could come up with? It makes you wonder if she even read the script before signing on to this project. I'd like to think she either owed someone a BIG favor, or better yet, was the victim of a plot by a bitter and disgruntled manager or agent to malign her for personal, as yet undisclosed, reasons. The bottom line is, Stewart and Wilson both have a lot to offer; it just seems so sad to see them wasted in something as unworthy as this ridiculous, offensive movie that isn't worth the film that retains it's untoward images. The supporting cast includes Bill Bellamy as Larry, Tyra Banks as Holly (proving here that beauty does not necessarily equate with acting ability), Steve Hytner as Marty, Jason Bateman (in a horrendous performance) as Jesse, and Tiffani-Amber Thiessen as Rebecca. A supercilious effort that has to resort to bathroom humor, cat cruelty and an Elvis impersonator in it's feeble attempt at getting a laugh-- which it doesn't (and note that even the word `humor' is used loosely within the context of this sentence)-- `Love Stinks' is a movie to be avoided at all costs. If someone perchance suggests to you that this one is entertaining and good for some laughs, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Or at least for the nearest exit. Immediately. And don't look back... I rate this one 0/10.
Review of Love Stinks
