User Reviews

It's hard not to feel some sort of sympathy for Lenny and Squiggy. Even though they're obviously sleazy and have little to no self-awareness of how poor their attempts to pick up girls are, you believe they deserve some sort of happiness as well.

Two episodes earlier we saw Lenny get his heart broken after he realized Laverne doesn't actually love him. This time Squiggy is the one who mistakenly thinks he's found love, though the siuation is a bit different.

Seeing everyone's shocked reactions every time Squiggy comes with good news about his new relationship and hearing Vivian brimming with enthusiasm every time she sees him is hilarious. I particularly love how they keep telling themselves it's none of their business, only to move the table closer and closer so they can hear what the two of them are saying. It's all a little too good to be true.

Shirley's eventually forced to confront her dear Squigman when he still can't see he's being emotionally manipulated for money. The revelation that he knew all along he was used but went along with it anyway because he's never been that lucky before to wind up with a beautiful woman is quite sad, and offers a rare break from his usually unwavering confidence. His mindset is "take all the luck you can get", but Shirl tries to convince him he can be only be lucky with someone who actually cares about him. As expected, he will hear none of it and presses on with Vivian anyway. Thankfully, when his friends all watch with worried looks as she tries to make him buy her a refrigerator, he finally has enough and tells her off. It makes me think of the ending to Hi, Neighbor: Book II where Squiggy yells at his date for ditching him, this time perhaps used to even better effect. I found myself cheering for Squiggy when reclaiming the little bit of dignity he has left. Everyone are happy that he stood up for himself, though it's quickly spoiled when he misunderstands Shirley's intention as she says he can buy her an ice cream. "Buy you an ice cream! You women are all the same!"

There's also a subplot about Shirley trying to re-ignite the spark in her relationship with Carmine when she hears how much fun Laverne and Ted Nelson are having together. The scene where Carmine brings some firewood so they can roast marshmallows contains some very funny awkward humor, with Shirley being too much of a stickler to appreciate the romantic gesture. But they do have a really nice time together later on, going out to a romantic place and... look at the stars. Laverne trying to conceal her disappointment when she hears it didn't lead to any necking is amusingly portrayed by Penny Marshall's slightly unsure smile. It has a great ending where Shirley gets reason to fret about how "boring" their relationship is again when Laverne runs home excitedly proclaiming she just rescued three kids from a burning building.