HAPPY TOGETHER

US, 1989, 102 minutes, Colour.
Helen Slater, Patrick Dempsey, Brad Pitt.
Directed by Mel Damski.

Happy Together is a slight, cheerful, predictable college comedy directed by Mel Damski, best known for a range of telemovies but whose features also include the comedy, Yellowbeard. Audience response will depend on liking for the two stars, Patrick Dempsey (The Woo Woo Kid, Can't Buy Me Love, Run, Mobsters) and Helen Slater (Supergirl, Ruthless People, Legend of Billie Jean, City Slickers). It is one of Brad Pitt's earliest roles indicating that he worked his way up to stardom.

Dempsey is an intensely serious young man, bent on being a writer, who discovers that his untidy and imposing roommate is not a man but Alex, Helen Slater. She, on the other hand, is rich and the life of the party, intending to be an actress. Inevitably they clash. Inevitably they fall in love. Inevitably they clash again and there have to be resolutions for a happy ending.

Both the stars perform competently, there is a range of teachers, fellow students - especially an obese student called Stanley who has an inflated doll, but who, somehow or other, with a talk from Dempsey, comes to his senses. A take it or leave it comedy.

1.American college life? Relationship between young men and women? Education? Hopes for the future? Serious? Comic?

2.The college campus, the buildings, rooms, shower blocks, lecture rooms, theatres? Familiar locations for this kind of comedy? The musical score?

3.The title, the title song - and the familiar words of `Happy Together'?

4.Chris, his mother pampering him, leaving home, the bus ride and his growing in independence? At college, seeking the way, reaction to the girls? Serious? His reaction to his occupied room? Not seeing Alex? In class - and her performance to get attention? Her arrival with the fellow student? Finding her, the clashes and arguments? The interactions, his exasperation with her, her over-the-top behaviour? The discussions, the shared plans? Working together, acting together? The scene where they declare that they could love each other? His reaction to her relationship with men? Slash and his proposal? Her waking him up, discussing things, his practical suggestions? Her admiration for him? The eventual falling in love? The affair? The effect on each? His complaining for a change of roommate - and the eventual roommate coming, his pretending to be gay, dressing in the dress? The lyrical scenes of Chris and Alex together? His wanting a more permanent relationship, dependence? Her flirting, the kisses to raise money? The revealing dress and his wanting her to change it? Their falling out? Confrontations? The madcap finale? His rescuing her? His return? Her admitting the truth and her dependence, his opening out? A future together?

5.Alex, seeing her on the float, her way of filling in the form, disregard of conventions? Her wealthy background? Ignoring Chris? Her boyfriends? The clashes with Chris, then relying on his advice? The dates, ringing up and changing? Her date with Slash and the promise to marry? Her performance and drawing attention to herself? The drama teacher's comment about her surface performance? Her trying to gain experience, depth her emotions? In love with Chris, the affair? The effect on her? Her racing around, the dress, the kissing to raise money? The clash with Chris and his not able to cope? Slash's return? The fight? His being called up, the alternatives about repeating the course or leaving? Alex and Chris telling the truth to each other? Their weaknesses, facing up to the truth? A future together?

6.Stanley and his inflatable doll? Sexist jokes? The talk with Chris, honest, giving up the doll? Dating the girls? Chris and his scene with the doll - and his exasperation? Stanley as a friend?

7.The range of college students meeting Alex, dates? Slash and his group, his boyfriend? His return and the confrontation?

8.The staff, the exasperated woman at the desk? The drama teacher and her advice to Alex? The writing teacher and his discussions with Chris, wanting him to feel some passion, supporting him on the board? The discussion at the bar?

9.Familiar college comedies with the serious touch, especially about relationships?