DON'T TELL HER IT'S ME

US, 1990, 102 minutes, Colour.
Shelley Long, Steve Guttenberg, Jami Gertz, Kyle Mac Lachlan, Madchen Amick.
Directed by Malcolm Mowbray.

Don't Tell Her It's Me is a light and slight comedy, more of telemovie material. It was written by Sarah Bird from her novel, The Boyfriend School. It was directed by Malcolm Mowbray who directed the effective British satire A Private Function and directed the American black comedy, Out Cold. The film is a star vehicle for Shelley Long as an eccentric writer of women's novels, with Steve Gutenberg and Jami Gertz. It is a romantic comedy, a comedy of mistaken identities with a touch of farce (especially with Steve Gutenberg pretending to be a New Zealand bikie called Lobo).

1. Entertaining comedy, light and slight, romantic, farcical?

2. The Carolina settings, homes, workplaces? Musical score, the title song and its lyrics?

3. The title, the relationship between Gus and Emily? The original novel, The Boyfriend School?

4. Steve Gutenberg as Gus, Hodgkinson's Disease, the radiation treatment, the effect on him? His work as a cartoonist, his sense of humour, drawing style? His relationship with Lizzie? Relationships, his future? Lizzie and her books, her plans? His relationship with women? The date with Emily, the dinner, his failure to impress her? Lizzie transforming him into Lobo, the hunk, the bikie, the New Zealand accent? His comic style and pretence? The hold-up at the gas station and his bravery, saving Emily? Her response? Lizzie keeping him disguised? The relationship between Emily and Gus and Emily and Lobo? The spurning of Gus, the sexual relationship with Lobo? His telling her the truth, Emily's anger? His leaving for New York - and Emily's coming with him? The cartoon character and type?

5. Shelley Long as Lizzie, her style, humour, her books, her imagination? The interviews and her grand manner? The friendship with Emily? Relationship with Gus, wanting to help him? Her imagination, contrivance? Her own family and her reaction? The dinner, the failure? Her continued support of Gus?

6. Emily, at work, her relationship with Trout? Going to interview Lizzie, her reaction to the plots? Her coming to dinner, her attitude towards heroes? Politeness towards Gus, rejecting him? Attracted to Lobo, the rescue at the gas station, his continued attentions, riding with him? The sexual encounter? The discovery of the truth, her anger? Going back to Trout - the relationship with him, the break-off? Her anger? Realisation of the truth, leaving for New York with Gus?

7. Trout, the newspaper? His work, the relationship with Emily, his ambitions and style? His new girlfriend, her father? The break-off?

8. The background characters - in Lizzie's writing world, at the newspaper, Gus's friends?

9. Predictable comedy, enjoyable - with the touch of the cartoon?