Love at Large *** (1990, Tom Berenger, Elizabeth Perkins, Anne Archer, Kate Capshaw, Annette O’Toole, Ted Levine, Neil Young, Ruby Dee) – Classic Movie Review 8007

Writer-director Alan Rudolph tackles the film noir with much style and considerable success in his 1990 up-market thriller Love at Large.

Tom Berenger plays hard-boiled down-and-out private detective Harry Dobbs, hired by vampish femme fatale Miss Dolan (Anne Archer) to spy on her boyfriend / lover Rick (Neil Young), who seems to be living a double life with two other women. But Berenger is being followed by Stella Wynkowski (Elizabeth Perkins). Who is she, and who is the heavy who is following both of them?

Love at Large is a little bit difficult, but entertaining and attractive. And, like its characters, it is wacky, warm and winning.

Rudolph’s film is a witty pastiche of, or homage to, or send-up on, or commentary about the film noir, and a reflection on love and the large problems it brings. It is amusingly written, tautly directed and resonantly performed. Heavyweight hero Berenger has started to show an easy lightness of touch in comedy here.

Also in the cast are Kate Capshaw, Annette O’Toole, Ted Levine, Neil Young, Ruby Dee, Barry Miller, Ann Magnuson, Kevin J O’Connor, Megan Lee Ochs, Gailard Sartain, Robert Gould, Dick Blocker, Bob Terhune, Araian Lamon-Anderson, Michael Wilson, Debra Dussy, Sunshine Parker, Billy Silva, Pamela Abas-Ross, Laura Kenny and Leticia Keith.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 8007

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