Often, films are unfairly judged upon release, sometimes missing their audience or simply being misunderstood. One such movie might be the 1985 film starring Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta. It garnered a Razzie nomination for Worst Screenplay, a fact that is often cited as evidence of its supposed poor quality. However, dismissing this film based on initial reactions and accolades like the Razzies does a disservice to what is actually a compelling character-driven story.
Many reviews at the time, and even retrospectively, point to the film’s box office flop as validation of its perceived awfulness. But box office success is a fickle metric. Consider 1982, a year that saw both “The Thing” and “Blade Runner” initially underperform – now both are considered classics. The summer of 1985 was a cinematic battlefield, packed with blockbuster hits like “Rambo II,” “The Goonies,” and “Brewster’s Millions.” Even “Beverly Hills Cop,” released months earlier, was still drawing crowds. Into this saturated market, a character-focused narrative like this film was arguably set up to fail commercially. Marketing challenges and audience expectations also played a role; were audiences ready to see Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta in something other than their typical roles?
The film centers on Adam Lawrence (Travolta), a Rolling Stone reporter who initially embodies a certain unscrupulous ambition. At the outset, he’s portrayed as someone willing to exploit personal relationships for a story, lacking ethical boundaries in his pursuit of a scoop. This changes when he encounters Jessie Wilson (Curtis), an aerobics instructor who becomes the subject of his next article. As Adam delves deeper into his story, he finds himself falling for Jessie. This burgeoning romance forces him to confront his own self-perception and re-evaluate his manipulative tactics as he navigates the complexities of his feelings and the potential for heartbreak.
The setting of the film, a Los Angeles health club, becomes a microcosm of 1980s societal obsessions. It portrays women, and men, caught in the pursuit of physical perfection, believing it to be the key to acceptance and love. The film touches upon the tragic undercurrent of this cultural pressure, although perhaps lacking a deeply nuanced exploration of the mental health aspects by modern standards. However, it’s important to consider the context of the 1980s, where understanding of mental health was significantly different from today. This slight oversight can be viewed as a product of its time rather than a fundamental flaw in the narrative.
For viewers who appreciate films that prioritize character development and nuanced storytelling over pure spectacle, this Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta movie offers a rewarding experience. The pacing might be considered deliberate, and the extended aerobics sequences might test the patience of some (or appeal to others for different reasons!). However, if you can look beyond the surface and engage with the characters’ journeys, the film provides a thoughtful exploration of personal transformation and the search for genuine connection. It’s a film that deserves reconsideration, proving that even movies initially deemed “perfectly awful” can hold unexpected depth and value.
