Singles (1992) User Reviews (105)

A Nutshell Review: Singles (1992)

[DICK STEEL · 7/10 · 15 October 2005]

Love. Sex. Friendship. Companionship. These are the themes obviously explored in Cameron Crowe's early movie Singles, which revolve around the love lives of singles (naturally) living in a common apartment. We follow each of the protagonist Steve (Campbell Scott), Janet (Bridget Fonda), Cliff (Matt Dillon) and Linda (Kyra Sedgwick) through their ups and downs in dealing with the weird little emotion called Love.

Well, not quite. As we know early in the film, each have problems and their own peculiar viewpoints on the dating scene. We see Linda meeting and breaking up with a Spanish student she was so into, after seeing through his lies and sweet talk. It hurts, and she doesn't want to be hurt again. Steve too have had a bad experience, and (I can identify with this) swears off relationships for the next few years, deciding instead to focus on career. As Fate would have had it, these two will meet at the unlikeliest places and get into a relationship.

Cliff, an aspiring rocker, seemed to have taken his girlfriend Janet, for granted. And I think this is something that most people can identify with. When efforts go unappreciated, or when things go mundane, the question is, do you want to bail out? And when you do, what next? Would you give the ex another chance? If you do, how would you approach it? It's fun watching a movie that was made 13 years ago, and you wonder about how the initiating and sustaining of a relationship back then happened without technology which we are so used to these days. Back then, a mobile phone was a cordless one, and there is no such thing as an instant message, but an answering machine. Where Speed Dating was unheard of, but Video Dating was the rage (check out the funny Tim Burton cameo).

You wonder too about the career of the leads. Campbell Scott was noticed by many after his pairing with Julia Roberts in the movie Dying Young, but after this, seemed to have vanished into obscurity. And so has Kyra Sedgwick. Only Matt Dillon and Bridget Fonda are still around, somewhere.

Oh, the music. Peppered throughout the movie is the wonderful musical tracks that always seem to punctuate a particular moment succinctly. I like Tarantino and Crowe movies because music plays an integral part of the entire experience, and Singles too had excellent ballads blended with grunge rock, say, Pearl Jam (before they made it huge), which also made an appearance.

It's a beautiful, quirky little movie with excellent identifiable dialogue, music, humour, and a younger cast of stars whom we know today, thrown into situations that everyone in love would have experienced.

Smart dialogue, believable characters

[Meredith-7 · 7/10 · 8 April 2000]

What I liked most about Singles was that many of the characters you could identify with. Its not often in a film where you can look at characters and think - I know someone like that. Its actually very accurate in the way it depicts the attitudes of twenty somethings who have been through a series of less than successful relationships. There are some great, and very funny scenes in this film, and the actors all put in great performances. Setting it in Seattle- the home of the Grunge band was a fantastic idea as well.

Cute, funny and sincere...

[dwpollar · 7/10 · 14 November 2004]

1st watched 11/14/2004 - 7 out of 10(Dir-Cameron Crowe): Cute, funny and sincere attempt to chronicle a singles life in the 90's in Seattle. What I liked about this movie is that all the single people know that they need "someone", which is the constant struggle that goes on in their lives, but finding that "someone" isn't as easy as we think it would be. This movie does a good job of showing this. It is well-written, funny, played out well by the stars and has a nice soundtrack to fill in the voids.

It's about "people" and it has a style like a chronicled life where the characters every once in a while talk to the camera as if their lives are being documented. Excellent effort by Crowe and his crew to bring this segment of society into view for all of us.

Not to be confused with other 'gen-x' films

[jcasetnl · 21 July 2003]

SINGLES is a charming, romantic movie and one of Cameron Crowe's best.

An oft-heard criticism of this film is that it's not an authentic portrayal of the Gen-X culture of the early 90's, but I've yet to see that done well in any film.

More importantly, the film never claims to be a Gen-X film. It's set in Seattle during the height of Seattle Sound but the cast is made up of driven professionals and slackers alike. It's more of a cross-section of 20-somethings, not a focus on Gen-X or Grunge. The characters, settings and themes are all to a certain degree idealized, which is a staple of Crowe's style.

Where this film's charm really lies is in capturing the spirit of the early-90's and the anti-classist sentiment embraced by teens and young professionals in opposition to the "status is everything" 1980s. It's nice to remember a time when being socially and environmentally conscious was actually fashionable for a time.

Sadly we all got sucked into the dot-com thing and realized we can be just as bad as our parents.

Cameron Crowe's underrated film

[Agaric · 7/10 · 11 June 2005]

Cameron Crowe delivers a charming little piece of romantic comedy with "Singles." Set amidst the backdrop of early '90s Seattle, the film itself often takes a backseat to its excellent soundtrack including some of grunge rock's best. However, Crowe's signature charm highlighting the little things of personal relationships amid big cities and big music earns this one a place alongside gems like "Say Anything" and "Almost Famous."

The film's title speaks over a range of topics within the film. The core characters find themselves single, living in single apartments, or even cutting singles in bands. Yet single relationship status above all helps to form the meat of the film, carrying us through the parallel paths of friends bound together by their apartments and the music they enjoy. The wrestling match between commitment and escape, love and friendship underpins every moment of every conversation.

Music lover Crowe's early days as a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine have rubbed off in many memorable ways over the span of his career. Often the sounds of his movies speak more potently than the actors, or augment their performance (we all remember John Cusack's Peter Gabriel moment in "Say Anything"). Peppered throughout "Singles" are fantastic songs chronicling the swell of Seattle grunge and alternative rock, including club performances by Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. Three members of Pearl Jam make delicious cameos as Matt Dillon's band mates, and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden even makes an appearance. Perhaps the best scene in the film occurs when Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick sit silently over the pieces of a broken plate, both utterly entranced with "May this Be Love" by Jimi Hendrix.

Admittedly the film has its flaws, owing mostly to the clunky nature of incorporating several different parallel plot lines into a film of this length. Some characters are squeezed in with marginal and ultimately forgettable results. However, Crowe's ability to forge the very fabric of what people love about each other and their lives keeps "Singles" afloat above other romantic comedies. Simply put, he nudges our own memory bank with a combination of music and storytelling that allows us to connect with his characters.

less than compelling leads

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 20 August 2015]

It's a group of single neighbors in Seattle. Linda Powell (Kyra Sedgwick) is happy to be living by herself after college. Steve Dunne (Campbell Scott) wants to concentrate on work to avoid the complication of love. They find each other nevertheless but struggle to commit. Janet Livermore (Bridget Fonda) is a 23 year old waitress saving money for school. Cliff Poncier (Matt Dillon) is her aloof musician boyfriend. Their friend Debbie Hunt (Sheila Kelley) does video dating.

Like other Cameron Crowe movies, the music is a big selling point and this taps into the emerging grunge scene in Seattle. However, the movie itself is a bit of a letdown. It tries to bring out the chaos of twentysomething love. It doesn't have great leads for the primary love story. It's strange that I always thought Bridget Fonda was the lead in the movie probably due to the poster. I remember her more than the primary leads Kyra Sedgwick and Campbell Scott. They don't have the superior A-list persona needed. It holds the movie back. The movie also is a step down from Crowe's other earlier works.

Little moments make 'Singles' one of my favorite movies

[femme_fish · 9/10 · 27 December 2004]

Cameron Crowe is one of those directors that thrive on making the little moments in movies the most memorable ones you'll ever see in your life. In 'Almost Famous,' it was when everyone on the Stillwater tour bus was singing along to "Tiny Dancer." In 'Say Anything...' it was when Lloyd was driving around and proclaimed how his heart was exchanged for Diane's pen. Crowe also creates many memorable little moments in 'Singles,' which may not be the most famous movie he's made but it's one of the best.

Even though 'Singles' is about twenty-somethings in Seattle, everything rang true to me as I am now, a teenager. The film is honest and real in how couples become couples and how relationships can fall apart. 'Singles' isn't at all mean-spirited or depressing in its portrayal of relationships or the dating game, so it might turn some people off who want to see the extremely ugly confrontations (a la 'Closer'). But the moments in 'Singles' that make it worth watching are when Linda (Kyra Sedgewick) gets to know Steve (Campbell Scott) while going through his record collection in his apartment. Or when Janet (Bridget Fonda) sneezes and gets a "bless you" from someone she (and the audience) would least expect.

Everything about 'Singles' is great. The cast, the music and the truth behind the movie will bring a smile to your face.

Worth watching for the cameos and wealth of talent, but less than the sum of its parts overall

[jamie-62802 · 6/10 · 7 January 2020]

I came across this title after seeing the Noah baumbach movie 'Kicking and screaming', which I think is a much better movie overall. While the seatle grunge scene this movie depicts and a wealth of acting talent, I found it hard to focus on the narrative it was a bit wishy washy. And the answering phone for the prehistoric dating game looked dated! this film hasnt aged well in a lot of places ,and the wooden acting by the lead couple (not Fonda/Dillon who add a comic element to things, the breast surgery brought on by his porn collection is priceless, and I did feel like i was the surgeon lol telling her not to go ahead. When Dillon mentions Belguim as a grunge hotspot it is ironic, subtle humour, and more of a european style of filmaking that American directors were adapting to over this period. Didnt know what chris cornell looked liked until after the film so for the cameos from pearl jam and alice in chains aswell worth watching this movie alone. It does well to identify cultural traits around modern singledom which are more universal themes so in this respect the film hasnt aged. Overall it tries to hard to be natural but entertaining in places but hard to focus on narrative, which was almost akin but not as much to Slacker by R Linklater, had to keep rewinding. Oh and watch out for the nearly guy from Back to the future, Erick stolz , unrecognisable as a clown!

Hilarious rockin romcom & the last of the great American growing-up comedies

[rooprect · 9/10 · 22 May 2013]

In the 80s, three directors perfectly captured the comedy of young American growing pains. These directors are John Hughes ("Sixteen Candles", "Breakfast Club", "Ferris Buehler"), Savage Steve Holland ("Better Off Dead") and Cameron Crowe ("Say Anything"). All of these films are characterized by witty, tongue-in-cheek dialogue (satirical but not sarcastic) and surreal, music-video-like gags such as, I dunno, a pigburger patty grabbing a guitar and rocking out to Van Halen's "Everybody Wants Some".

When the 80s ended, apparently so did their unique and idiosyncratic brand of humour. John Hughes stopped directing in 91, and Savage Steve's last feature film was also in 91. Cameron Crowe evolved into a different style with his hugely successful 30-something comedy "Jerry Maguire". Here, folks, in 1992 I believe we have the last (and possibly best) of the great 80s growing-up films. If you've seen the others I mentioned, don't consider your life complete until you see "Singles".

Even with Crowe's 1989 "Say Anything", focusing on high school graduation, Crowe was the most mature of the bunch yet every bit as quirky and hilarious. "Singles" covers the next age, 23-to-27, establishing careers and facing grown up problems but still as wild and emotionally reckless as high school kids. I suppose some of us carry that same crazy recklessness late into life which is what makes this movie great for oddballs of all ages.

The movie is perfectly cast with Cambell Scott in the lead (think John Cusack but a sharper dresser), Kyra Sedgwick as a slightly flakey control freak (maybe an early version of Tina Fey in "30 Rock"), and a host of awesome supporting characters: Bridget Fonda as the slightly neurotic groupie who refuses to admit that she's a groupie, Sheila Kelley (remember the hot paralegal in LA Law?) who plays a goofy, insecure maneater, Eric Stoltz (Caprica, Pulp Fiction, The Prophecy) in the oddest role he's ever played: an obnoxious mime who won't shut up, and of course the show-stealer Matt Dillon as the not-so-bright artist/rockstar whose magnum opus is a song called "Touch Me, I'm Dick".

Speaking of rock music, cameo appearances, as well as performances, include... are you paying attention, folks...?

Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam

Chris Cornell and the gang from Soundgarden (watch for Chris in the scene where a car stereo installation goes horribly awry)

Thomas Doyle singer for TAD (he's the guy who delivers the hilarious punchline "You got the wrong number, lady, but I'll be right over")

Pat Nizzio singer for The Smithereens

Everyone from Alice in Chains

Jeremy Piven (Ari Gold in Entourage) as the funniest checkout clerk you've ever seen

Bill Pullman (the President of the USA in "Independence Day", here playing a nerdy breast implant surgeon)

Paul Giamatti in one of his first speaking roles ever (with the 1-word line: "What?!!")

Cameron Crowe's mother

and none other than director TIM BURTON as Bryan the next Martin Scorcese (pronounced "Score-seeez" haha)

And if that's not enough to make you want to rush out and rent this movie, don't forget the killer soundtrack with tunes by the aforementioned bands plus Jane's Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins, Paul Westerberg (The Replacements) and others I'm probably forgetting.

The story itself is fantastic, not only hilarious but probably the most insightful peek into romance disorder since "When Harry Met Sally". This comedy has it all. See it, see it again. Live it. And praise the gods of 80s comedy that we were given this final masterpiece of a bygone era.

Not Crowe's best work but still mildly amusing and entertaining

[=G= · 6/10 · 9 December 2001]

Two Seattle single couples and assorted friends and neighbors work at dealing with the foibles, insecurities, games and other issues of contemporary dating and relationship building in this hip but less than coherent flick. As much as the characters are likable and believable, so the film lacks clear purpose and a sense of direction. Far from apocalyptic but with a subtle charm, "Singles" wends its way through a mildly amusing and sometimes poignant 100 minute runtime.

A page from the Grunge Diaries...

[vertigo_14 · 5/10 · 10 May 2004]

Singles was made during the height of the grunge years, the early 90's youth's attempt to be profound. Aside from sounding like neo-hippies, those years did produce some gnarley music and strange fashions.

Set in the birthplace of Grunge, Seattle Washington, the film follows several twenty-somethings attempt to find love. Bridget Fonda is Janet, is a self-doubting young woman who is hopelessly trying to get the attention of the clueless multi-employed singer, Cliff (Matt Dillon). Debbie (Shelia Kelley) is so desperate for a relationship, she seeks to find that lasting relationship with a horrible video dating service.

Unfortunately, some of the character's doubts about their relationships comes from trying too hard to go by some previously established, understood rules of dating. Such is the initial problem between Linda (Kyra Sedwick) and Steve (Campbell Scott). Notice his opening pick up line. And they are really the main characters in the story, trying to dodge any obstacles that might screw up the chances for this relationship because this could be The One. The entire dating plot becomes rather self-indulgent, though the more entertaining one is between Janet and Cliff, since Cliff is such an oblivious moron.

And, what is an early 90s Seattle-based movie without some music? This movie is partly advertised for it's soundtrack, which features Pearl Jam (the gorgeous Eddie Vedder and bassist Jeff Ahmet of Pearl Jam appear in several scenes as accompanying musicians in Cliff's band, Citizen Dick). Soundgarden has a stage scene as does Alice in Chains. They picked the creme of the crop of Seattle Grunge (but where's Nirvana?) to add some flavor to this somewhat lackluster movie. I've never been much a fan of Cameron Crowe films, anyways, which I think are often overrated (see Vanilla Sky). If for nothing else, I'd highly recommend it for fans of the Grunge Days because this is really a page from the Grunge Diaries.

Great film.

[Peach-2 · 10/10 · 10 June 1999]

Singles is a great film. I loved every minute of this film. Cameron Crowe has directed two films I consider essential viewing. Say Anything was the first and Singles is the second. The cast seemed like real people to me, and I loved all the performances. This film dealt with relationships in the 90's in a very realistic, funny and sometimes sad way. The soundtrack to this film is amazing. Great selection of tunes. This film has many moments you'll be quoting from for quite a long time. Great film.

ehhh....fun if you have an evening to fold some laundry and do your nails

[dena-623-962265 · 6/10 · 1 April 2013]

Really Cameron Crowe wanted to do a typical rom-com, but he also wanted to ride on the coattails of the "Seattle grunge movement." He combined both and the finished product was "Singles." This isn't pulled off smoothly.

I have been in an interesting mood lately, trying to view things that I remember getting bludgeoned over the head with through advertising until I finally gave in as a middle schooler/teenager. "Singles" is my latest project. The idea is to see if there was any real substance to these old films or if it's just cultural fluff and a sign of the times. "Singles"=cultural fluff.

I won't deny that there is a special thrill in the first scene with Alice in Chains. And it is fun spotting Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell as youngsters. That thrill subsides pretty quickly when you find that you've entrapped yourself in a formulaic love story that tries to package itself as something modern.

Opportunities for a serious edge were squandered. Bridget Fonda's character makes some interesting and independent choices, yet the script couldn't resist putting her back where she she started. A serious plot twist that developed between Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick was quickly and conveniently done away with, after only a few moments of screen time.

The movie spends a few moments here and there at local concerts with the likes of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, and pans over the writhing "mosh pits" in an effort to remind this that this is the new 90's style of being young. Does not work with this story. As attractive as Kyra Sedgwick is (and a decent actress) I would not have chosen her for the lead female role.

Her personality and appearance to not fit the style of the movie, and she looks woefully out of place at an Alice in Chains concert, like she wandered out of an elementary school library to see what was going on.

Is it worth a watch? Yes it is. There are some genuinely funny moments that I had missed as a kid, involving cameos by Jeremy Piven and Eric Stolz. Bridget Fonda is just adorable and her style holds up pretty well after 2 decades.

However, from what I hear, we have "Singles" to thank for the parade of youth watching over the next 10-15 years, from "Reality Bites" to "Friends," bringing us more and more white post college young adults exchanging remarks and looking stylish. And let's not forget the coffee shop.

The question that begs is... Were Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden truly looking for a break through the big screen? I won't deny that this really helped a-list all those guys. Nirvana backed out. Is Chris Cornell ashamed? hmmm...

Boring Tripe

[Aphex97 · 3/10 · 20 May 2001]

Completely boring, derivative, and predictable plot. Characters are silly cardboard cut-out cliches and the "comedy" is paint by the numbers. Every joke, every twist can be predicted before it happens on screen. I see no evidence of originality and felt no real human emotions were touched upon in even the most superficial way.

People note this film for its music, but it seems to me the inclusion of the Seattle "Pearl Jamish" music and scene is just a attempt at mainstream Hollywood trying to make a derivative and wholly uninteresting concept/characters seem "cool" and appeal to the pop culture mainstream of the time.

FINAL RATING: 3/10 Don't waste your time. Spend 2 hours staring at the wall instead.

Noob Aalox

Apartment Complex Life

[msawyer-2 · 7 July 2004]

Having lived in Seattle during the years of my life most of the characters are in this movie, I was able to relate to this movie. Anyone who has lived in an apartment complex where people have dated and known a bit too much about each other can appreciate this film. The cameo appearances of members of pearl jam and xavier mcdaniel were a great touch.

The viewer is left with what I could call a warm feeling much like watching the sun set on a day towards the end of summer. Contemplation of all the good and bad that may have occurred in the last few months..

Maybe that's a bit too abstract, but if this movie gets you there then fine.

And yes, the sun does shine sometimes in Seattle!

The most commercially successful project Paul Westerberg has ever been part of

[Twins65 · 6/10 · 15 October 2012]

as the "Singles" soundtrack he wrote two songs for went platinum, but I'm still guessing 24 out of 25 average music "fans" couldn't pick him out of a police lineup. However, since he's still collecting royalties off it, I'm guessing his relative lack of fame doesn't really upset him.

I just watched this for the first time in almost 20 years, and was rewarded with a decent (if understated) viewing experience. This movie sat on a shelf for 18 months until Warner Brothers finally released it in Sept. of '92, and were rewarded with a modest hit. By that point, the Seattle music scene had exploded, with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains all huge national acts. In retrospect, the movie may have been a bigger hit if it would have focused primarily on all of the emerging bands instead of quirky "twenty-somethings", but then it wouldn't have been called "Singles", right.

Once again, I'm not going to discuss the plot, as it's been hashed over several times here. Let's just say that if you want to see what the origins of grunge and its club scene looked like, this is a great place to start.

P.S.-of all the great actor cameos everyone has talked about in this movie (Stoltz, Giamatti, Burton, Horton, Garber, Piven, Pullman, Skerritt, and even Cameron Crowe himself), the one that freaked me out the most was Christopher Masterson playing Steve at age 10. Being that he was probably in the 5th grade when he shot his scenes, I wonder if he can remember any of it today.

P.S.S.-Bridget...COME BACK!!!!!!

A pretty ordinary movie about relationships, with great memorable cameos of the Pearl Jam dudes, Chris Cornell and Tim Burton!

[RainDogJr · 7/10 · 25 July 2010]

I always considered Cameron Crowe's SINGLES as something I really had to see. My one and only connection to it: the grunge. As a huge grunge fan (especially of Pearl Jam) I've had since years ago a sort of pending meeting with Crowe's second feature. Today I finally sat down I watched it on DVD.

I have to say, if you want something more related to music, something like, I'm pretty much guessing as I have seen only parts of it (the "Tiny Dancer" part for sure), Crowe's ALMOST FAMOUS, or something that really puts you in the "grunge scene", you'll disappointed. To be fair, it made think in that music-related talk with Quentin Tarantino from the Collector's Edition of the PULP FICTION Soundtrack. And that is because Tarantino says this: "what I don't wanna do is, and I've see it happen in a lot of movies, where they just turn up the soundtrack to create a false energy, or in particularly to create a sense of period. They're not investing in the picture. OK, it's the sixties, we play a lot of sixties songs and that will create the period. To me that's cheap, like listening to the radio and watching a movie at the same time. They don't really go together". In this case, I wouldn't go as far as to call the use of some Pearl Jam songs, and the scenes of Alice In Chains and Soundgarden playing at some bar, cheap, but they definitely don't create something special, something that, like I said, really put us in early 90s Seattle. For instance, it's only people dancing in a club to a Pearl Jam song (always great to hear Pearl Jam though). And yes, maybe that's just early 90s Seattle, and yes I'm caring too much about the setting of the story but to be more fair, I wouldn't have seen a "romantic comedy" by Cameron Crowe if not for the grunge thing. I mean, something like Crowe's SAY ANYTHING… is not the kind of movie I'm always looking forward to check out.

So, the level of disappointment that SINGLES gives to you may certainly vary. I mean, you can enter here not knowing anything about the grunge setting, or you can enter here seeking for a movie about early 90s Seattle musicians (maybe thanks to the image of Matt Dillon with the "grunge look" and his guitar). In my case, and like I said, it did disappointed me in the setting thing but in the end I really can't say this is something anybody should runaway from, that anybody should avoid at all costs.

It's a pretty darn normal "relationships movie", simply as that. It almost never feels false in that regard, which is certainly the best thing. My main point here is that pretty much this whole story doesn't go hand-to-hand with the period it is setting in. Sure, Matt Dillon's character Cliff has a grunge band (you just gotta like a whole lot this character! "Now, a song like "Touch Me, I'm Dick" is about... what?"; Cliff: "Well, I think "Touch Me, I'm Dick," in essence speaks for itself. I think that, you know, that's basically what the song is, um... about... is about, you know... I think a lot of people might think it's actually about, you know, "My name is Dick, and, you know, you can touch me," but, I think, you know, it can be seen either way") and the other main characters (played by Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Bridget Fonda, Sheila Kelley and Jim True-Frost –nice to see "Prez" from "The Wire"–; the acting is fine) go out to bars to listen to Alice in Chains (there's a scene with main character Steve, and Sedgwick's character Linda, and his record collection, Hendrix, the Clash, you know), to dance to "State of Love and Trust", but are they really Generation X characters? Well, the main couple in the movie, Steve and Linda, ain't. Like I said, it is an ordinary relationships movie, that is entertaining and that probably you can enjoy more than me.

If I will remember SINGLES for something is definitely for its great cameos: Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament (is just fun with these guys! They play the band mates of Cliff's band. Eddie is the drummer of the band, by the way), Chris Cornell (totally great, hilarious! Sort of reminded me Jay and Silent Bob from CLERKS an other Kevin Smith movies I have yet to see) and Tim Burton (as a video maker who "is only like the next Martin Scorsese"!). So, memorable details in an entertaining if totally ordinary love story… that would be my summary of SINGLES. Oh, and the soundtrack is certainly great, but some of the background music during the film is not (think of the opening theme of "Friends" and you'll get the idea. When I thought this I didn't know that this movie became sort of the basis for "Friends", if wikipedia doesn't lie: "Warner Bros Television tried immediately to turn Singles into a television series. When Crowe balked at the notion, the company proceeded with the idea, engaged a new writing and directing team, changing elements and the name to Friends").

Great movie

[camillalu · 9/10 · 18 February 2022]

Haven't seen this movie since 1992 and I still love it. Great story, music, acting, feeling, yeah, everything. Even my teen kid liked it. So sunny with Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell being in the film as actors.

Poignant, but sappy look at the Seattle singles scene

[rlcsljo · 6/10 · 1 January 2001]

What do woman want? Are they looking for "intimacy" or the first guy to get them pregnant? This film won't settle this question, but at least you will get some insight into what goes through their demented minds as they search for "Mr. Right".

The hard edged sound track on this one almost overwhelms the story and the sensitive portrayals of 20-something angst is almost lost. But, after you get sick of the songs (and this takes a long time!), turn down the volume and you will find some great acting and a touching plot.

Excellent movie about singles' lives in the 90s

[junemiller2003 · 9/10 · 4 September 2005]

This movie was so much more like TV sitcom "friends" than "sex and the city", i mean, it makes you approach to people in their early 20s on a different level than just sex. Boy!!! would i like to have seen more of Campbell Scott & kyra Sedgwick. i mean, they have so much chemistry that you just wish you could be part of them. Scott began his career with very big promise (with this, longtime companion, the sheltering sky and dying young) but without you even noticing, he became a indie dude that chose the worst roles in the worst indie movies (at least, until secret lives of dentist) and there's a big talent wasted. Kyra Sedgwick's on a similar position (great beginning with born on 4th of July and something to talk about and then...just dissapearing into shi**y roles).Bridget Fonda achieves yet another great performance of her early career (along with single white female and Jackie brown) and shows she can be so sexy without being the classic boob-blonde girl. Cameron crowe, well, i would do a standing ovation if i ever get to meet him. he made a great movie, and practically, a gen-x classic. good for you.

Slow but that soundtrack tho! 😍

[welhof1 · 7/10 · 28 July 2022]

The movie was alright. Little slow. I didn't care too much what happened. All the characters just seemed a little boring to me. I really could not have cared less if one of them died or moved or hooked up with another. I just didn't care. But the soundtrack and the performances made up for it.

Not my Gen-X

[floracubed · 4/10 · 4 May 2003]

Can I say candyass on IMDB? I can safely call myself a Gen-Xer, not as a point of pride or shame, just as a matter of statistical fact. I graduated from high school in 1990 and I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard that Kurt Cobain was dead. This ain't Gen-X. This is a sorry attempt to remake Fast Times at Ridgemont High for Generation X. [Note: I didn't realize until after I wrote that sentence that Cameron Crowe was responsible for both movies. That explains a lot.]

Singles gets all the details down (the long hair, the leather jacket, the coffee, the slacker waitress job, the communal living, the Seattle, the mountain bikes, the... recycling). But the wholesome, well-scrubbed boys and girls in the cast bear no resemblance to anyone I ever knew in the early 90s. With all due respect for Pearl Jam and Soundgarden (and a lot of respect is due) a thin veneer of their music can't save this movie. If Gen-X meant anything at all, it surely meant that chicks had other things to do than get decked out in slick suits and go get breast enlargements like Bridget Fonda does (on a waitress's income?!) to make their greaseball rocker boyfriends happy. I've got nothing against breast enhancement, but that's not what the early 90s were about. This is the Hollywood-cheeseball version of the Gen-X story. It is safe enough for your grandmother. You want Gen-X? Go watch My Own Private Idaho or any episode of the Simpsons or even The Blair Witch Project. This ain't Gen-X.

A sweet romantic comedy

[braids · 10/10 · 5 January 2006]

This movie has almost convinced me that I am way too closed minded about mainstream movies.

I saw this mainly because of its 'grunge' soundtrack, composed by the brilliant Paul Westerberg.

What I saw was not a 'grunge' subculture movie, but rather a conventional romantic comedy, probably quite similar to many Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts movies, but I loved it! Sometimes you need a bit of sugar in a movie, in the same way you need to escape, or have your mind expanded.

I really enjoyed this movie, and I find it hard to believe that anyone can not find something to like about it. One of my favourites of all time!

Break up, make up, etc. - not the worst of its ilk

[wavecat13 · 6/10 · 4 March 2019]

There are probably worse ways to spend 100 minutes than watching this romantic dramedy. The story follows the lives of a handful of 20s-30s SWP as they go thru some romantic ups and downs. Meet up - break up - make up - et cetera. Linda and Janet are sensible and nice, with Sheila as the wild, kooky girl. Steve is an uptight, well-meaning city planner, and Cliff is the rock'n'roll dude who is unable to commit (unless the girl is rejecting him.) This film sought to cash in on Seattle's newly discovered early 1990s hipness - there are cameos by real Seattle grunge musicians! - but it could have taken place in many other cities.

A Gen-Grung set piece

[dyserian · 1/10 · 21 February 1999]

White bread. That's the taste this movie left with me. Not even white bread toast. I suppose it was supposed to be an extended rock video with dialogue. And compared to "Sliding Doors" it's an actual achievement in understanding why middle class white kids always end up acting like, well, middle class white kids. They're spoiled into self absorbed oblviousness. It's a movie of sincere affection for the Grung Gen Xers it's about but that's about all. Just more self engrossed primping in front of a mirror. Every generation of "20 somethings" spends time seeking an identity, I guess. But these folks seem to put on the identity MTV, et al. gave them. Disappointing. Sigh. No one questions anything. Breast implants? yeah, duh, ok...sure. Kids ? Ok, duh, yeah..sure. Date a guy with an IQ that would embarrass a fish stick? Sure, yeah duh...ok. Will somebody shake these people? Please ? For it seems no matter how much they bang into and over each other, cut each other off, so to speak, they're driving in a deep mist. Maybe the choice of rainy, misty Seattle as the setting was also symbolic, unintentionally, of course. Soggy white bread pieces floating around a puddle..in a mist.

But it's a date movie, right ? I'm making too much of all this, right ? But considering the near divinity we American's proclaim for children; our neurotic luv with the culture of youthfulness and mindless conformity to anything youngish in fashion or fad I have to ask. Is this it ? Is this what the richest, most powerful nation in history can produce ? I guess so. So, what will I tell my children ? (snicker, smirk) These people make the people on "The Springer Show" look thoughtful and earnest in comparison. Maybe thats the final irony. Those who have been given and have everything possible become incapable of doing, being, thinking, feeling or becoming anything. They were given Seattle, all new, shiny and prosperous. They gave nothing to it so, in return they make it bland, ill fitting, noisy and tedious in its endless conformity, always turning in upon itself. A Mobius strip of stale, white bread.