Besides making it with every broad this side of his sister, Shirley, Warren Beatty finds himself as the lothario of the 1970's even with that wretched hairstyle of his own. The opening has him involved in an affair with Lee Grant, the Mrs. Robinson of the 1970's, who doesn't seem to mind that her powerful Republican husband Jack Warden has a young mistress of his own, the sweet Julie Christie. When Beatty, already involved in an uncommitted affair with Goldie Hawn (who is really just a female friend with benefits), also receives a pass from Grant and Warden's underage daughter, Carrie Fisher.
So this is a comedy about sex, but Beatty might change his playboy ways if Christie has her way. Young fisher proves herself to be quite in charge when she confronts Beatty about his sexuality. Set around the election of Richard Nixon 6 years before, this has an outrageous election night party where Christie shocks Warden and angers Grant with a hysterically funny pass towards Beatty, followed by the oh so dignified speech of oblivious society matron Doris Packer.
This can't help but be an unapologetic product of its times, even if there were major cultural differences between 1968 and 1975. Hawn and Christie are window dressing, yet very good, and Beatty is often a selfish prick. For as unlikable as their self- centered older characters are, it is Grant and Warden who stand out, with Grant stealing every scene she's in. The script is amusing and very adult, and makes me glad that in 41 years, sexual morals have provided at least a little decency that this makes fun of.
So this is a comedy about sex, but Beatty might change his playboy ways if Christie has her way. Young fisher proves herself to be quite in charge when she confronts Beatty about his sexuality. Set around the election of Richard Nixon 6 years before, this has an outrageous election night party where Christie shocks Warden and angers Grant with a hysterically funny pass towards Beatty, followed by the oh so dignified speech of oblivious society matron Doris Packer.
This can't help but be an unapologetic product of its times, even if there were major cultural differences between 1968 and 1975. Hawn and Christie are window dressing, yet very good, and Beatty is often a selfish prick. For as unlikable as their self- centered older characters are, it is Grant and Warden who stand out, with Grant stealing every scene she's in. The script is amusing and very adult, and makes me glad that in 41 years, sexual morals have provided at least a little decency that this makes fun of.