Romantic drama takes look at real issues
"Just Between Friends” is described by its makers as [ a contemporary, romaritic drama, but it could also be viewed as a comedy with more than its share of bitterness.
The video, [ characterised !by some [wild mood swings, cleverly tells an interesting story. Mary Tyler Moore, as thej sunny housewife, and Christine Lahti, as the ambitious, independent television reporter, are drawn intp! friendship by their verj' different; lives.
But when the television reporter arrives for a Saturday evening dinner papy she discovers that they have something in copmon after all — Ted Danson — who is husband to one of them, and lover to the other. Lahti surely deserves 3 sofae kind of award for thjit look of sick horror on her! face when she realised who the husband is they are waiting for so the party can start. With Danson walking unaware into[ this situation as [well, the [video comes cloiser to | degenerating
into farce for a few minutes. [ But once[the characters have smoothed down those ruffled feathers, it settles down into examining some real issues, j The central issue is whether (he friendship between the two women can survive a series of traumas, and the bitterness they create. It is a nice touch (hat the drama is played out against the backgroun i[ of a Californian earthquake and its aftershocks, 1 I The performances are excellent. [The story was written with Mary Tyler Moore in [ mind, and I has been made by her production company. MTM Enterprises. [ Lahti has appeared in the 1979 I film. "... And Justice For All," and more recently 1 won i acclaim fori her! role in "Swing Shift." [ 1 I Danson | [is primarily a comedian; (best known for his television [ role in "Cheers," [and [his close friend is (played in[ this film by Sam Waterston, who won' an Academy
Award nomination for "The Kjilling Fields." "Just Between Friends." 106 minutes iong, is an R.C.A.-Columbia-Hoyts release rated as suitable for persons 16 years and over, i
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Press, 26 April 1988, Page 22
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335Romantic drama takes look at real issues Press, 26 April 1988, Page 22
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