SUMMER LOVERS

year: 1982 cast: Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah, Valérie Quennessen rating: **1/2

Peter Gallagher’s handsomely hawk-like Michael Pappas, in his early twenties, has a dilemma: the kind of problem most guys (including yours truly) would die for. His gorgeous blonde girlfriend Cathy, played by a young Daryl Hannah, is not enough for him. Basically, Michael’s in his early twenties and is already suffering a mid-life crisis.

Cathy does have shortcomings: she's not that adventurous or exciting. The couple are vacationing in the Greek islands and she acts like they’re at a Cleveland based Ramada Inn.

Once Michael catches a glimpse of (and the mutual eye of) mousy French girl Lina, an archeologist played by FRENCH POSTCARDS and CONAN THE BARBARIAN beauty Valérie Quennessen, he follows her around the hillside-villa beach town until they connect, hook up, and here’s where the real "story" begins.

Valérie Quennessen as Lina

Michael presents Lina to Cathy, and the two women get along alright: enough for Cathy to not care that Michael prefers two women to one, in the sack and out. Soon the giddy trio traipse around the Greek Isle as if they not only discovered a new form of sex, but like they invented the act outright.

It's a very limited Menage a Trois relationship; not surprising given the 1982 release date. Thus that decade’s candy-coated music plays loudly throughout.

Hits including “I’m So Excited” and “I Just Can Get Enough,” although catchy and fun, not only dates but somewhat demeans a film that tries to be more quirky/art house than mainstream/trendy.

Daryl Hannah as Cathy

The main problem is that Lina, who becomes a progressive sexual dynamo to Michael and Cathy, has too subtle a personality for the audience to understand what the big deal is. Valérie Quennessen, a cute enough actress, doesn't live up to the goddess label she's given.

And an 11th hour surprise intrusion of Cathy’s uptight mother could have added something – like a much needed obstacle to the breezy romance – but winds up filler in a story written and directed by GREASE man Randall Kleiser, who seems more in love with pop music and the Greek Isles than the three main characters we never really get to know.

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