Singles [1992] (Region 2)

In the midst of all this sits a cosy residential apartment block, a perfect setting for the emotional crises of on-again, off-again, on-again couples Steve and Linda (Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick) and Cliff and Janet (Matt Dillon and Bridget Fonda). Steve is a sensitive transport engineer whose game-playing backfires when he meets Linda, an environmental activist with a fear of rejection. Cliff is a feckless rock musician, and front man for Citizen Dick, whose inability to commit to Janet is forcing her to take desperate measures. Will the couples split? Will they reunite? And will they learn a little something about life, maturity and commitment along the way? As you'd expect from the man behind the cutesy teen classic Say Anything (his directorial debut), Crowe's relationship resolutions are often simplistic and sentimental ("You rock my world!" and "You belong to me!" are two such vocal denouements). And this, combined with a rambling narrative often makes the movie feel longer than its 95 minutes (an inter-title announcing "The Theory of Eternal Dating" sums it up). Nonetheless, there's enough wit, comic digression and tap-along gaiety elsewhere to make Singles an enjoyably slight romantic placebo. --Kevin Maher ... (more) (less)

Cameron Crowe

Matt Dillon

Jeremy Piven

Jeff Ament

Chris Cornell

Stone Gossard