Threesome

Starring: Lara Flynn Boyle, Joshua Stevens, Steven Baldwin

Fleming takes a story that could so easily have degenerated into sophomoric softcore and creates what I think is a pretty damn good picture. The sex and the romance (and there is plenty, not to mention lots of language that is very profane and absolutely authentic) take a back seat to what is really a story about friends and friendship; about the people who help you through your most difficult times. It also provides a pretty unvarnished look at the kinds of things that preoccupy most college-aged men and women. All three principals are excellent (and Boyle is ravishing) but I really must single out Baldwin. Perhaps because he can't trade on the unearthly good looks that his brothers enjoy, it may be that he is the best actor of the lot. Here he gives a completely open and guileless performance as a truly natural man. The picture is funny and poignant, and you must applaud Fleming for his maturity in forgoing a phony happy ending, and holding true to his story and characters. Perhaps this picture spoke to me not only because the characters seemed absolutely real (we've all known people like them) but because the portrayal of the intense but ephemeral intimacy that so often characterizes college relationships is so well rendered and rings so true. (4/18/94)