Lovers Knot

March 2024 · 5 minute read

Despite Tim Curry's Brit accent, "Lover's Knot" is pure American collegiate humor. This perky celebration of supposedly modern romance will appeal exclusively to TV viewers with a wholesome view of sex and romance, after which it may be found on the family shelf of vid stores.

Despite Tim Curry’s Brit accent, “Lover’s Knot” is pure American collegiate humor. This perky celebration of supposedly modern romance will appeal exclusively to TV viewers with a wholesome view of sex and romance, after which it may be found on the family shelf of vid stores.

The story is told cleverly enough by interlacing the action with comments by characters and various onlookers — who range from Dr. Joyce Brothers to Shakespeare and John Donne — addressing the camera to opine about the romance in progress.

Curry pops up as a know-it-all angel sent by Cupid to bring together couples who are meant for each other.

Related Stories

Photo collage that includes stills from the movie "Joker: Folie à Deux" as well as the TV show "The Penguin" VIP+

Despite ‘Joker’ Folly and ‘The Penguin’ Success, DC Studios Still Untested

'Star Wars: Outlaws' Creative Director Julian Gerighty Reflects on Making the First Open-World 'Star Wars' Game, Why It's Set in the Original Trilogy Era

'Star Wars Outlaws' Creative Director Julian Gerighty Reflects on Making the First Open-World 'Star Wars' Game and Why It's Set in the Original Trilogy Era

The pair in question is Steve (Bill Campbell), a young college English teacher with a thing for Renaissance poetry, and Megan (Jennifer Grey), a strong-minded pediatrician with a practical view of love who has just broken up with a plastic surgeon (Adam Baldwin).

Popular on Variety

Cupid’s minion oversees their first encounter, courtship, lovemaking, first breakup and — no surprise — last-scene reconciliation; his sardonic comments have a comparatively sophisticated ring after Steve and Megan’s silly antics.

Steve is convinced that by studying the great romantic poets of yore he will discover the secret of making love last. His imaginative courtship of Megan works, and they move in together. But his latenight thesis-writing and gawkiness lead to their parting ways. It takes Curry’s help to get them back in each other’s arms.

At times, director Peter Shaner seems to be sending up his characters’ unbearably conventional mores. A goofy young married couple “interviewed” about the meaning of love is a laugh, and Steve’s old roommate — a confirmed Don Giovanni perpetually surrounded by sexy playmate types — is a breath of fresh air.

But leads Campbell and Greyfall all too neatly into “Lover’s Knot’s” banal college humor. A couple whose biggest trauma is a fight about who takes out the garbage (“You won’t work at this relationship!” she complains) is really beyond critique.

Making the film watchable is its pace, achieved by the intercut interviews, fantasy cutaways and guest cameos by the likes of Adam Ant and Brothers. A few of these inserts hit the mark, but most barbs fall lamely on the ground, along with the rest of the dialogue.

Tech work is very much in the spirit of the film: even lighting, cozy domestic interiors and a medley of romantic background songs.

Jump to Comments

Lover’s Knot

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9mhnqCjp%2BgpaVfp7K3tcSwqmikn6uys3nSZqKnp6RifnN8j21rb2loaXw%3D