STRIPTEASE

US, 1996, 112 minutes, Colour.
Demi Moore, Armand Assante, Ving Rhames, Robert Patrick, Burt Reynolds, Paul Guilfoyle.
Directed by Andrew Bergman.

A case of having your cake and eating it. While sometimes tut-tutting about the life of stripteasers (and their often gross audience) and trying to highlight family values, Striptease offers plenty of the real thing just in case we weren't sure what it was. It is a mixed compliment to say that Demi Moore is very good at it, far classier than expected.

But is the film serious about family pressures, care of children and corrupt politics? Is it an expose of American life? Is it a comedy? It seems to try for all three - which leaves one with very mixed responses (and especially to Burt Reynolds' over-the-top rendition of a dill of a Republican congressman). It is trash, but more watchable than most trash. It is based on a novel by top crime writer Carl Hiassen whose writing is infinitely more witty than this adaptation by writer-director, Andrew Bergman (Holiday in Vegas, The In-Laws). However, Bergman has really kept the spirit of Hiaasen’s novel (with all the mixed themes) and has retained a great deal of detail, more than many another adaptation. Most of the casting is just right – Burt Reynolds capturing the idiocy of the novels’ character. Ving Rhames is also good. Angela is played by Demi Moore’s daughter, Rumer.

It is a pity that he did not keep the ending where the congressman has to learn the realities of sugar production and its consequences.

1. The film based on a witty crime thriller by Carl Hiaasen? The adaptation by Andrew Bergman? The transition into a comedy while retaining the satire?

2. The Florida settings, the homes, the strip clubs? The hotels with the political background? The musical score, the songs, the music for the striptease dances?

3. The title, the focus, the striptease sequences? The club, the clientele? The women themselves, their image of themselves, the image from the public? From the police? Erin's choice of the job? Supporting her daughter, not wanting her daughter to see her?

4. The basic situation, Erin and her work for the FBI, sacked because of her husband? His role as an informant? Criminal? The judge and his decision to grant custody to the husband? The appeal?

5. Erin, her bringing up her daughter, her stripping, the encounter with the congressman? Jerry and his support? His being found dead? The investigation by Al Garcia, the friendship between the two? Shad and his presence at the club, protecting her? The development of the political pressures, the hypocrisy of the congressman, the plans, the murders, her greater involvement, leading the congressman on? Shad and his protection, the final set-up, her being vindicated, getting her daughter back? The bond between mother and daughter?

6. The congressman, Burt Reynolds' over-the-top performance, his wig? At the strip joints, his lack of control? Malcolm Maldovsky as his manager? Getting him out of situations? Resorting to violence? The thugs attending on him? His behaviour at the club, with Erin? His imagining her infatuated with him? His going to meetings, socially appropriate, religious? The double standards? His foolishness, risks, his assistant wanting to resign? His finally facing the facts, on the boat, the violence, his being humiliated? Arrested? Malcolm, sinister presence, controlling?

7. The police, Al Garcia, serious, the discussions with Erin, his visiting her, trying to protect her? The investigations, the confrontation with the congressman?

8. Darrell, criminal, informant, his losing his job, his drinking? Custody of his daughter, moving her from place to place, concealing her from her mother? His final comeuppance - the decision about the button for the sugar, covering Malcolm with the sugar? An inept personality?

9. Shad, his presence at the club, his dreams and ambitions, tough, toughing it out against the thugs? His support of Erin?

10. How well did the mixture of comedy, police investigation, politics, gangsters, striptease and clubs work together for an entertainment?