Soup For One

1982's SOUP FOR ONE is as formulaic as they come for romantic comedies.  Young NYC neurotic leads empty life of singles bars, bad dates, and unsatisfying hook-ups.  He has a happy-go-lucky friend with no qualms about such an existence and forever trying to get him to loosen up.  But our hero longs to find his Dream Girl/Soul Mate, even going so far as to having a police sketch artist draw his description of this woman who is technically missing.  The neurotic finally meets her in a hotel lobby and proceeds to bug her relentlessly until she finally gives him an "in", becoming his friend and eventual lover.  But she doesn't believe in marriage.  He thinks of nothing but.  Is their relationship doomed?

Writer/director Jonathan Kaufer really does nothing innovative with his entry in the Rom-Coms, but SOUP FOR ONE is so entertaining and likable the carps seem pointless.  The film is almost entirely comedic, with only a few serious moments (and even they feel fairly lightweight).  The humor, often not highly sophisticated, will be lost on many younger viewers.  It's a mishmash of Woody Allen, Albert Brooks, and even Rodney Dangerfield.  It's bombastic and unsubtle, but usually smile worthy.  The lines are amusing: "I used to be an anarchist.  Now I'm a Democrat with a bald spot." Also, "I'm going to run home screaming now."  Very self deprecating.  The movie, despite a few late heartfelt soliloquies, is not as insightful as any Woody, and nowhere nearly as subversive and exasperating as Brooks' brilliant MODERN ROMANCE.

The cast is appealing.  Saul Rubinek is Allan, a producer for a low rent cable station, who mopes and annoys but the object of his affection Maria (Marcia Strassman) just can't resist him.  Oh, she does at first, and those scenes are the funniest in the movie.  The actors have a nice and believable rapport.  Gerit Graham is funny as that Casanova buddy, Brian.  Also on hand are Andrea Martin as a woman who uh, really knows what she wants, Richard Libertini as Maria's father (who owns a porno bookstore), and character actor James Rebhorn in an early performance as a lawyer who tries to return a cat o' nine tales to said shop as he feels it isn't up to par.

The movie does try to spice things up with a few sex scenes, which are mostly a tease.  There's also a part in which participants are shown in S/M gear.  These moments do clash a bit with the overall warm sentiment of SOUP FOR ONE, and don't add much.

For me, the best quality of this movie was the patented late '70s/early '80s feel of it.   Much of this is due to nice location shooting of dirty ol' New York and a soundtrack of songs produced by Nile Rodgers, including a few by Chic.   Teddy Pendergrass performs in one scene, too.   And Johnny Mandel contributes the score, with all those great strings and horns which reek of its era.

I watched the movie on iTunes, which is apparently a rip from the VHS (still looked and sounded fine).  SOUP FOR ONE  has never had a remaster or DVD release, so that old Warners Brothers logo - the one where the "W" comes right at you before landing in the oval - began the film and warmed my nostalgic little movie geek heart.