Threesome (film)

Infobox Film
name = Threesome


caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Andrew Fleming
producer = Brad Krevoy
writer = Andrew Fleming
starring = Lara Flynn Boyle
Stephen Baldwin
Josh Charles
Alexis Arquette
Martha Gehman
music = Thomas Newman
cinematography = Alexander Gruszynski
editing = William C. Carruth
distributor = TriStar
released = April 8, 1994
country = USA
runtime = 93 min
language = English
budget =
imdb_id = 0111418

"Threesome" is a 1994 film, written and directed by Andrew Fleming. The film is an autobiographical comedy mixed in with some social commentary, and is based on the college memories of Fleming. It was given an "R" rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Plot

Due to an administrative error two male college students, the shy and intellectual Eddy (Josh Charles) and the All-American jock Stuart (Stephen Baldwin), ending up with a female roommate. The university thought that Alex (Lara Flynn Boyle) was a man (based on her name) and thus the three students are forced to live with each other until the university can move Alex to a female residence hall.

Alex falls in love and tries unsuccessfully to seduce Eddy; Stuart is in love with Alex, and Eddy falls in love with Stuart. The trio become good friends and scare off anyone who tries to seduce the other. Eventually, Alex, Stuart and Eddy agree to have an actual threesome and that seems to destroy the friendship, and raises the possibility that Alex might have become pregnant.

After the threesome they start to drift apart. Three weeks later the semester ends and Alex is finally moved to a female dorm. The next year Eddy got a single dorm with no roommate and the three continue to drift apart. Eddy (who acts as the film's narrator) eventually finds a boyfriend, Stuart finds happiness in a monogamous relationship with a woman and Alex remains single. While they drifted apart, only to see each other for lunch occasionally, they do not seem to regret the friendship they had while in college.

Criticism

Upon release, the film received mixed reviews. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 26% of critics gave "Threesome" positive reviews, based on 23 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/threesome/ |title=Threesome Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-08-10 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Critics such as Roger Ebert felt that film was unfunny, and that "Like many kids their age, these three are more bold in talk than action, and the movie sounds right; it sounds like undergraduate human dialogue, intended to shock, to liberate, to amuse." [ [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19940408/REVIEWS/404080302/1023 :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews :: Threesome (xhtml) ] ] Yet, even Peter Travers' review for "Rolling Stone" magazine wrote, "We're supposed to get all teary when kinkiness threatens to break up a friendship that was hard to swallow in the first place. There's lots of glossy cinematography, courtesy of Alexander Gruszynski, as the three lovers wander the campus separately, looking contemplative. Now there's a laugh. Eddy, a film student, actually makes reference to François Truffaut's ménage à trois classic, "Jules and Jim". Eddy, you wish." [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/_/id/5947441 Threesome : Review : Rolling Stone ] ]

Post-Threesome

The film has been viewed in a new light as one of a group of films marketed at Generation X, that were released in the early 1990s and which helped to pave the way for more openness in American cinema about human sexuality and more positive portrayals of gay characters.

In the years after the film, Baldwin became a born-again Christian, a member of the Republican Party, and occasionally makes public appearances with Republican officials. [cite news |url=http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/hotline/h070409.htm |title=BUSH: Nothing Says Happy Easter Like Stephen Baldwin |work=The Hotline |publisher=National Journal |date=2007-04-09 |accessdate=2007-04-09 |quote=Families "braved freezing weather" this weekend to get tickets to the WH Egg Roll. As of 8 a.m. today, the south lawn of the WH "will turn into a playground for little kids pushing eggs with wooden spoons." [...] Among the other guests on hand: Olympic medalist Kerri Strug and "Sex Monster"/"Threesome" star Stephen Baldwin. (subscription required)] He has distanced himself from the film in interviews and has stated that he is not bisexual or interested in threesomes. [Citation needed]

DVD

In 2001, a DVD version of the film was released with some special features; a director's audio commentary, an alternate ending, various language subtitles and cast talent files.

References

External links

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