Vile Bodies

By Richard Schicke

LOVING COUPLES

Directed by Jack Smight

Screenplay by Martin Donovan

This is an attempt to cash in comically on the recent fashion-- especially not ed in celebrity circles-- of affairs between older women and younger men. In this instance the former is played shrilly by Shirley MacLaine, the latter by a prime piece of California beef called Stephen Collins. Once their liaison is established, James Coburn, who is hopelessly mis cast as MacLaine's husband, takes up with Collins' girlfriend (Susan Sarandon, who knows how to play comedy and thus appears out of place here). Many embarrassing situations occur, none of them wittily stated or compassionately developed. Writer Donovan's script lacks simple decency, let alone style, warmth or even point of view. As for Director Smight, his sense of comedic timing perfectly matches his material. His film is lit in a flat, harsh manner that is particularly cruel to the older players. Once again, a promising subject for a comedy of contemporary manners has been blown by people who combine vulgar sensibilities with crude craftsmanship. In all, the thing looks and sounds like a rejected television pilot -- and a bad one at that.

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