SKIN DEEP
US, 1989, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Ritter, Julianne Phillips, Vincent Gardenia, Don Gordon, Michael Kidd, Nina Foch.
Directed by Blake Edwards.
Skin Deep is a sex comedy written and directed by Blake Edwards. It is In the tradition of his 10 with Dudley Moore and The Man Who Loved Women with Burt Reynolds.
John Ritter plays a successful author with writer's block end a mid-life crisis., He drinks too much; he womanises too much. He goes to a psychiatrist, he talks things over with one of those wise barmen. However, he still loves his wife but is unable to commit himself to her.
As with Blake Edwards' other comedies, the humour is very broad and generally unsubtle. The film has several glowing condom sequences which gave it some notoriety at the end of the '80s. But also, as with Edwards, the film ends with its heart in the right place and reaffirms monogamous commitment.
John Ritter is amiable in the central role. There are a number of attractive actresses including Julianne Phillips. Michael Kidd appears as the psychiatrist and Nina Foch appears to advantage as the hero's mother-in-law.
1. Enjoyable and interesting, sex comedy of the '80s?
2. Blake Edwards and his more raucous American style, unsubtle and knockabout. Frank, with moral comment?
3. The title, ambiguities about sex, superficiality?
4. The film as a sex comedy, mid-life crisis comedy, the portrait of a womaniser, the blend of realism and farce, the '80s and permissiveness in visuals, language? The ultimate theme of commitment?
5. The California style; the glamorous author, the TV anchorwoman, the body-builder, the psychiatrist, the bar with the friendly barman, the range of women, lawyer, public functions, parties - the glossy style? Blake Edwards' picture - and yet mocking?
6. John Ritter's style as a comedian: his portrait of Zach, telling us what was happening? His background as author, skilled? The opening shooting and his involvement with the two women, with his wife? The build-up to their clash and separation? The sequences of his talking to his psychiatrist, the psychiatrist offering advice? The man at the bar, listening to his stories, offering advice? The growing desperation? Drinking, his accident, the irony of its being on his wife's television programme? The range of women to whom he was attracted, the visualising of the attraction? Loni and her size, musclebound, his going home with her, the next morning's aerobics? The relationship with Molly, the six months, his being demanding, the house burning down? His relationship with Alex, with Greg? The clashes with his stepson-in-law? The visit home, the encounter with his mother-in-law and her clashes, the dog? His going to jail, the driving, needing the advice of his lawyer? Getting him out? Going to the party dressed as Aladdin and everybody laughing at him? Going to Alex's house, the clash with Marge, his finding the address, turning up at Alex's wedding, spoiling everything, Marge's punching him? The return to the bar and the psychiatrist? The fable about changing nature, the story of the scorpion? The advice to the alcoholic - give up drink? His being at the beach, meditating, visiting his lawyer and the flood? His success? His talking frankly with Alex? The writing of the book, the fantasy (including Amy and party and his talking to all the people that he Knew, the rock'nroll boyfriend) and the illuminated condom sequence)? His resisting Becky? His success, declaration to Alex, with her again? Commitment?
7. The portrait of Alex, TV anchor, speaking the truth, the demands of the separation, her not wanting to speak to him again? Seeing him on the TV accident programme? Her son, the social, inviting Zach, her mother, the build-up to the wedding, the interruption of the wedding, Zach's success, their talking, the reconciliation, the final commitment, and the glowing condom not necessary?
8. Molly and the mix-up, the fight, the burning of the house, her return to the ruins, talking with Zach and telling him what was wrong? Loni and her picking him up, the sex, the bodybuilding, his joining the aerobics? Amy and her attractiveness, the rock'nroll boyfriend, the noise in the hotel, his complaints, the night with her, the two men with the condoms and the fight? Seeing Molly and Loni and Amy at the end?
9. The barman and his stories, his bar, friends with everyone, a good listener, good advice, knowing what was wrong all the time?
10. The psychiatrist, his therapy, his suggestions?
11. Marge and her dislike of Zach, her dog, wisecracks, the meal, the punch at the wedding? Greg and his dislike of Zach, Becky and her attractiveness? Greg and his abilities at playing the piano?
.12. The raucous comedy, especially the condom sequences and their notoriety, the homosexual couple, bickering, friendships, illness and suicides, funeral?
13. For what audience was the film made? Audiences identifying with the characters, their moral codes, personal crises, psychological needs, therapy, moral values, relationships? The blend of the flip and the serious? Commitment?
