About Last Night… **** (1986, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, James Belushi, Elizabeth Perkins) – Classic Movie Review 2042

In his directorial debut, Edward Zwick’s cunning 1986 romantic comedy drama offers key Brat Pack actors Rob Lowe and Demi Moore the chance to grow up in the movies in a clever David Mamet piece, based on his 1974 one-act play Sexual Perversity in Chicago. It is all about a young Chicago yuppie couple who try to develop a one-night stand into a permanent relationship and enter a committed partnership for the first time.

Danny Martin (Lowe) and Bernie Litgo (James Belushi) are single men living in Chicago. Danny meets Debbie Sullivan (Demi Moore), they enjoy a one-night stand and we follow the ups and downs of the first year of their ensuing relationship.

The idea of the ‘perversity’ of the play’s title seems to refer to people knowing what they want but still backing away from achieving it. The film keeps to the spirit of Mamet’s entertaining, thought-provoking story and ideas, but naturally the Hollywood process has opened the play out, toned it down and put a fake-feeling gloss of optimism over it. This slightly but not fatally undermines the truthful feeling for the enterprise. It’s still an excellent movie.

Tim Kazurinsky and Denise DeClue are responsible for the competent if uninspired screenplay, probably sticking to their brief, and they have successfully updated a 70s play to have strong 80s relevance. But, as you can imagine, it is a shame that the powerful and respected dramatist and screenwriter Mamet didn’t do his own script.

The performances of Lowe and Perkins are appealing and special enough to have led to better careers than they’ve enjoyed so far, though Moore of course became an unexpected superstar in the nineties, and she shows her determination to succeed here. James Belushi, on the other hand, has been rewarded for film-stealing support roles like this one with unexpected character actor movie stardom. All four actors make the most of their acting opportunities here and deserve a lot of praise.

George DiCenzo, Michael Alldredge, Robin Thomas, Donna Gibbons, Megan Mullally, Patricia Duff, Rosana DeSoto, Sachi Parker, Joe Greco, Ada Maris and Rebecca Arthur are also in the good and interesting cast.

The film’s great 80s soundtrack includes music by Sheena Easton, Michael Henderson, John Oates, Jermaine Jackson, Bob Seger and John Waite.

The three dots are the end of the title are an ellipsis, by the way.

It was remade in 2014 with Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Regina Hall.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2042

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