1986's Just Between Friends is a soapy, but somewhat effective melodrama about a television anchorman named Chip Davis (Ted Danson), who is married with 2 children, who drifts into an affair with another reporter at the station named Sandy(Christine Lahti). Almost simultaneously, Sandy begins taking an exercise class that's being taught by Chip's wife Holly (Mary Tyler Moore) and, of course, Sandy and Holly become instant friends. Once Sandy learns who Holly is married to, she tries to end the affair, but before it officially ends, Chip is killed and not long after that, Sandy learns she is pregnant with Chip's child.
This film is a throwback to the films that Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins made together like The Old Maid and Old Acquaintance, or some of Lana Turner's most famous work, but basically it just comes off as a Lifetime TV movie. Now I like a good chick flick just as much as anyone, but this one is just so corny and predictable. The one thing that does make it worth sitting through is a terrific performance by Lahti, who brings a surprising depth to the role of Sandy and works very hard at making this film more than just another chick flick and she almost succeeds...
This film is a throwback to the films that Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins made together like The Old Maid and Old Acquaintance, or some of Lana Turner's most famous work, but basically it just comes off as a Lifetime TV movie. Now I like a good chick flick just as much as anyone, but this one is just so corny and predictable. The one thing that does make it worth sitting through is a terrific performance by Lahti, who brings a surprising depth to the role of Sandy and works very hard at making this film more than just another chick flick and she almost succeeds...