I know I just wrote about a mid-’90s Gen X-centered tale a couple weeks ago, but I decided to do it again, just for kicks. I was inspired to write about Threesome (1994) for two reasons (not three). First, I recently decided to rewatch the excellent Aaron Sorkin comedy series Sports Night (1998-2000), which costars one of Threesome’s stars, Josh Charles, who I used to have a big crush on back in high school. And second, our own Robert Cass and I recently had an e-mail conversation about Stephen Baldwin’s bad acting and douchey haircuts, though it started out being about something else entirely.
Even if you’ve never seen this movie, I bet you can figure out what it’s about. But I’ll give you a quick and dirty synopsis anyway. Horndog jock Stuart (Baldwin) and sensitive film major Eddy (Charles) are roommates in their college dorm. Their testosterone-filled living situation is thrown into chaos when a clerical error made by the college’s housing office places Alex (Lara Flynn Boyle) — a chick! — in the dorm as their third roommate. At first, the three don’t get along at all, but eventually they get to know each other and start hanging out all the time, chasing away anyone who tries to break into their little circle (or is it be a triangle?). Here’s the fun part: Alex is in love with Eddy, who’s in love with Stuart, who’s in love with Alex. Oh, the drama! I don’t want to spoil the film for you, but since the title pretty much does it anyway, the three eventually act upon their desires all at once and engage in a threesome. But instead of bringing them together, their little tryst only drives them apart — and scares the shit out of them.
It’s not Unusual: Beneath the eccentric, black humor and innuendo, the new ABC NYPD series The Unusuals offers clever, metered banter and quick, intelligent pacing. In short, everything you’d expect of a hot cable show. It seems like a complete thrill to this reviewer… which, of course, can only mean one thing: expect The Unusuals to depart quickly. Similarly-framed shows like Sports Night, Love Monkey, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Trust Me stiffed. One can only assume this one will, too. Bigtime.