You Can't Hurry Love (1988) User Reviews (12)

GREAT cast. HORRIBLE script.

[WisdomsHammer · 4/10 · 25 March 2022]

It's hard to believe how terrible movies like this can get made, let alone with a cast this talented and fun. I suppose they were sold on the premise, which is not a bad one: A guy from Ohio moves to California to try to get into advertising and find love, only to end up with an "advertising" job that consists of handing out flyers at the beach and on a string of hilariously bad dates gotten through a video dating service where he thinks he needs to pretend to be someone he's not in order to attract a girl.

Sounds okay, right? Well, none of the jokes hit, almost all the bits that are supposed to be funny are just stupid, and there is very little romance in this until the end, all tied up in a bundle of ridiculous cliches that will make you groan out loud.

The thing is, this has an actually half decent lead and several well known and amazing costars in it! I was surprisingly impressed with David Packer's ability to actually make me care about his idiot character. I've always liked Bridget Fonda but while she shows up throughout the movie, they don't give her as much time as they should, in my opinion. They tease romance between her and the lead but it's done really poorly, and the chemistry is terrible between them. Tony Geary, Kristy McNichol, and Charles Grodin all have great bit parts that I found fun to watch. Porn star Candie Evans even shows her amazing body off for a few seconds in two scenes. They all kept me watching, but wow, is this script bad.

Richard Martini wrote AND directed this, so he's the one to blame. I don't see a casting director but whoever got all these fun people to star in this is a genius.

It's not the worst thing I've ever seen but that's hardly a recommendation. If the cast interests you at all, it's better than staring at the wall, I guess. It's got a couple fun moments in it, but it's bad. Really bad. Good luck.

Won't you take me to...Phonytown. (spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 6/10 · 5 November 2005]

Fans of the obscure 80s comedy, 'Odd Jobs' (in which Scott McGinnis, who plays Skip here, also co-stars) might want to try out this rather silly romantic comedy, although it lacks much of the stupid humor of the former (but still contains some wry humor). This is the story of a well-meaning, somewhat naive guy named Eddie (David Packer) from Akron, Ohio who goes to live with his suave cousin, Skip (McGinnis) in Los Angeles where he finds out that success comes from pretending to be successful. It's advice that Eddie is at least willing to try, having no luck in his advertising pursuits (he's a handbill solicitor on the beach for a rental shack) and romance. Most of the movie focuses on Eddie's romantic pursuits as he enlists in a video dating service and, with one false persona after the next, he meets girls with all sorts of bizarre hangups that seem to get him no where. So Eddie thinks that maybe Los Angeles has him beat. (Think of it as like the West Coast version of Michael J. Fox's character in "Secret to my Success").

Most of the humor comes from the odd situations Eddie finds himself in with all of the strange people he meets in L.A. Look for Diz McNally in a bit part as a cab driver. For those who grew up in the 80s, you may remember her from the old Nickelodeon show, 'Out of Control,' which starred David Coulier. And, aside from my usual favorite, Scott Miginnis in his trademark role of the wealthy stud, I thought David Leisure as Eddie's boss, Lu Leonard as the dating service manager, and Frank Bonner and Luanna Anders who play Eddie's parents, were terrific and hilarious supporting characters. The lead, David Packer, has always done well with this sort of naive, well-meaning character. Those who enjoyed The Running Kind might want to give this one a try (and vice versa).

David Packer Makes This Film Worth Watching!

[james362001 · 6/10 · 8 November 2001]

David Packer (whom you may remember from the NBC-tv miniseries' "V" (1983) and "V: The Final Battle" (1984)) is so wonderful in this film. His acting is so natural and very easy to watch. His voice is nice and soft to listen to. His personality is kind and gentle. No attitude here. David Packer makes this film worth watching. The cameo appearance by Kristy McNichol is fun to watch. Wish there were more scenes of her. Yes, that is Sally Kellerman singing nicely during the end credits.

Tacky comedy with some T&A but precious few laughs...

[moonspinner55 · 3/10 · 14 May 2006]

David Packer plays a young single making his way through the blind date scene in loony Los Angeles, finding many nuts and flakes in the bowl before clean, uncomplicated Bridget Fonda makes his day. A broadly-drawn, low-budget and low-class comedy made up of an unbroken string of stupid lines. Kristy McNichol's brief appearance as a mercurial performance artist lasts about seven minutes, but she's the best thing in the movie. The rest of the picture is pretty vile, with additional cameos by Charles Grodin and Sally Kellerman adding nothing. Crass material not even good enough for your standard TV sitcom. * from ****

You Can't Hurry this film along fast enough either

[culwin · 5/10 · 23 October 1999]

I think the title is trying to explain why this film ddrrrraaaags along. It's like swimming in molasses. Lots of dialogue here but none of it of any value. I challenge anyone to sit through this entire movie in one sitting without falling asleep or going mad. But then one should expect no less from the co-writer of "Three for the Road", that movie was no winner either. I'm sure this movie looked good to Bridget Fonda on paper, it just should have stayed there.

Silly 80s sex comedy that got lost in the shuffle

[rjfromtoronto · 5/10 · 22 December 2022]

Picked this up at a church sale for $1 because I never pass up obscure 80s fun, Don't remember this movie coming out, and this one isn't anything to write home about, it came out the same time as Twins, Big, Beetlejuice, Naked Gun, Heathers, and Cocoon, its no wonder I never heard about it, should have come out in 84 and it might have had a chance lol. So except for the fact it has Herb Tarleck, a couple of the Empty Next tv show stars, a young Brigette Fonda (see her in Jackie Brown or Point Of No Return) and the surprise cherry on top Marete Van Kamp, of Princess Daisy, Osterman weekend (opening scene) or Poison Ivy 3 as the Beverly Hills mom at the start, playing a sexy nymph who falls for the lead. Watch it for old 80s Hollywood and L. A scenes you will remember if you were in LA back in 87 like I was, Sunset Blvd, Hollywood Blvd, downtown, good clean fun, Don't expect much just enjoy it for the innocence of the time and happy go lucky hold back on reality types of films of that era. Silly and fun, good for a Sunday Aft after you watch Funny Farm with Chevy Chase lol.

Strong Cast and Charm Help Assembly-Line Film

[JLRMovieReviews · 6/10 · 20 October 2015]

David Packer wants to find success, love, and his path in sunny California. Leaving his parents and home behind, he goes to live with a friend (Scott McGinnis.) The whole plot of the film is his experience of joining a dating service "Love Connection"-style and hooking up with supposedly nice girls and the quandaries they put him in. For such an obviously simple film, it has enough charm to make you relax and feel at home. This is not terribly inspired or original, but you get to see plenty of 1980s stars, such as David Leisure, Kristy McNichol, Sally Kellerman, Charles Grodin, Anthony Geary, Lu Leonard, Frank Bonner, Merete van Kemp (from Dallas and TV miniseries) and Bridget Fonda. I don't usually read other reviews, but I agree with a lot of them when I say "I ashamedly admit to enjoying and liking most of it." It's so unpretentious and is not in your face with crude jokes like others of its kind. In other words, this is better than it has any right to be, given the likable and down-to-earth lead actor and colorful and professional supporting players. The director rightly made a who's who cast to keep the viewer interested. While this is peppered here and there with some skin scenes for those who enjoy that sort of thing, on the whole, this is a better than usual 1980s film about a guy trying to find love.

let's try video dating in LA

[ksf-2 · 5/10 · 9 November 2021]

Blast from the past with this cast: David Leisure, Frank Bonner (wkrp), Charles Grodin (mister low key), sally kellerman (back to school), Kristy McNichol. In the film, Eddie (Packer) heads to LA to hang with his cousin Skip (McGinnis). The midwest guy has a hard time fitting in, and the job Skip got for him is handing out flyers on the beach! He gives video dating a try, but each date is wackier than the one before. It's a bubble gum flick, with lots of saxophone, and big hair. The actors all show weird smiles after each sentence. There's barely a plot, where mom and dad are trying to convince Eddie to come back home. Of course, there's full frontal female nudity. That's about the only redeeming feature of this one. Moves so slowly. Written and directed by Richard Martini. This was his first direction of a full length film. Seems to have done a bunch of docs recently.

Shaking my Head

[Watcher-37 · 4/10 · 20 August 1999]

Okay, the movie was pretty awful, though it didn't make me want to vomit. I'm trying to figure out what the makers of this film were thinking. The most amusing part of the film was of course all the dates that the lead character got set up on. Of course it wasn't all that original because the dates from hell is a standard plot in every movie and sitcom. I am a fan of Bridget Fonda's, and even though she wasn't a big name at the point of this film's making, I have to wonder why she would consent to be in this. Other than she needed the money. I definitely don't need to see this one again. It may have been aiming for charmingly goofy, but it ended up at the destination of head shaking bad.

The quintessential 80's flick

[cktail · 10/10 · 23 February 2001]

This was running on TNT for it's '80's night.' Great cameos in this flick from Tony Geary as a homeless guy living in a box on Venice beach, to Harry Perry, the skating Sufi from Venice - David Leisure as an unctuous boss, Christy Mcnichol as a performance artist.. not to mention Charles Grodin as a condom pushing father. This flick still runs on Comedy Central and it always makes me laugh out loud. Especially Bridget Fonda's boss who runs the dating service. UPDATED JULY 2009. Just watched it again courtesy of TV Guide's channel with all the nonsense running underneath. Still makes me laugh. Lu Leonard is hilarious as the owner of the dating service (she passed away a couple of years back.) This film was 20 years ahead of its time.

Guilty pleasure

[dshortt · 5/10 · 6 June 2002]

Hardly a great picture, but the guest stars lift it up beyond the usual retread romantic comedy. Charles Grodin has probably 2 minutes of screen time and yet manages to create a complete character out of a few lines. Sally Kellerman and David Leisure are also good. Other minor characters are well-cast. I hate to admit it, but I liked this one.

Nice funny job

[ionov · 8/10 · 10 December 2000]

Nice movie, lots of fun, one you'd want to re-see every 5 yrs.

Easy and witty.

Bridget Fonda plays fine and all the cast are really convincing in a funny situations that are in there in plenty....