WORTH WINNING
US, 1989, 103 minutes, Colour.
Mark Harmon, Madeleine Stowe, Leslie Ann Warren, Maria Holvoe, Mark Blum, Andrea Martin
Directed by Will Mackenzie.
Worth Winning is a rather slight sex comedy of the 1980s, a star vehicle for Mark Harmon was later to have a successful C.I.S. career. In this one, he is relying on his charm – even his straight to camera comments about himself and his activities. He has a bet with his friends that he can or cannot make three marriage proposals in three months and be accepted. The bulk of the film is about his quest, with Erin (Maria Holvoe), a glamorous sports enthusiast; with Eleanor (Leslie Ann Warren), a rich and bored socialite; with Veronica (Madeleine Stowe) a rather snobbish concert pianist.
The film is a blend of the romantic, the touches of crass, especially in the chauvinist attitudes of Mark Harmon. But, of course, he gets his comeuppance as well as his marriage.
1. A romantic comedy? Sex comedy? 1980s style?
2. The American cities, apartments, homes, restaurants, clubs, television stations, sports, pianist concerts? The musical score? Songs?
3. The title, the word play on worth, the bet, the result? How well was Worth worth winning?
4. The introduction to Taylor, TV comments, fans, autographs? Being a weatherman, his personal style, audience response? His fellow commentators? His rehearsals, his performances, his special signs for his girlfriends?
5. Taylor, his friends, playing cards, the bets? Ned, friend from school days, psychologist, with his daughter, Taylor saying he liked children? Wanting to teach Taylor a lesson? The proposal, three marriage proposals accepted in three months? His taking the bet?
6. Taylor, confiding to the audience, making the audience like him better – or not? Personal revelations?
7. Seeing Erin, her bodyguards, glamour? The bet, his taking the little girl, Erin’s response to children, the date?
8. Ned, his deciding on the three women, Erin, Eleanor, chronic Veronica? The fact that every proposal had to be videoed?
9. The episodes with Erin, the date, talking sport, good company, her bodyguard friend and his opinions? The build-up, the proposal, children’s excitement, virgin, preparing for the wedding, the ashes, the materials…? The luncheon with Taylor, his trying to put her off, sterility and in vitro, his saying he was impotent? Her response, accepting this, the bodyguard and his constant devotion, proposal, acceptance?
10. The episodes with Eleanor, rich and bored housewife, her gross husband and son and their table behaviour? Shopping, Taylor and his advice, the shoes, the dress? Her putting him into the changing room? Sexual aggression? The affair? Her work in charity? At the recital, the sex in the technical room? The proposal? Breaking it off?
11. The episodes with Veronica, the discussions with Claire, friendship, performances for the charity? Her looking down on Taylor, the visit to the TV station and her spurning him? The attraction of opposites? Going out, the sexual encounters? Veronica’s opinion of herself? The performance for the charity? The outing, Taylor setting up the camera, getting in focus, the proposal, acceptance? His love for Veronica, a genuine proposal?
12. Ned and Claire, the relationship, the children? Claire and observing what was going on? Ned and the meetings with the friends? His watching the videos? The price of the Picasso and his talking to Claire about it?
13. The kids watching the video, the revealing of the truth? The women meeting, planning together, at the restaurants?
14. The women, all together, Taylor and his embarrassment? The women tantalising him?
15. Preparation of the wedding, invited to the reception for Erin, Eleanor moving in, his desperation? Going to the church, the ceremony, Veronica’s refusal?
16. The auction, Veronica’s performance – the bidding, Taylor and his further bids, Veronica’s reaction, his coming down from the balcony, the apology, the
acceptance? Happy ending?
17. The usual American style – the initial touches of the sex comedy leading ultimately to commitment?
