Serial (1980 film)
| Serial | |
|---|---|
| Cinematography | Rexford L. Metz |
| Edited by | John W. Wheeler |
| Music by | Lalo Schifrin |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $9,870,727[1] |
Serial is a 1980 American
Plot
In trendy
On one hand, his wife Kate and her friends are thoroughly caught up in the
Harvey's best friend Sam, meanwhile, is having marital troubles, and Harvey is trying to land a higher-paying job with his corporate recruiter Luckman. In a parallel, Sam and Angela's sexual relationship is seemingly also over. Sam and Harvey chat about Harvey's mid-life crisis which Sam puts down to the lack of sex.
As marital problems persist, Kate and Harvey separate. The catalyst is a wild party thrown by Joanie while her parents are out at a friend's wedding. Each becomes sexually involved with someone else, albeit rather awkwardly. Harvey tries to avoid the advances of his newly hired secretary, Stella, who lures him to an orgy, but he does begin seeing Marlene, a free-spirited, 19-year-old, strictly vegetarian supermarket cashier. Kate links up with Paco, a bisexual Argentinian aspiring to be an artist, whose profession for now is to trim her dog's hair.
Being unhappy at home, Joanie is lured by "concerned" members of a flower-peddling cult. She goes voluntarily at first and finds peace and tranquility there, but eventually finds herself virtually imprisoned in their house in the big city.
Harvey and Kate manage to patch up their differences for Joanie's sake. By means of a little blackmail that ensues from a surprise revelation involving Luckman, a gay motorcycle gang joins forces with Harvey to rescue Joanie. Thus, the Holroyds are reunited and prepare for Harvey's new job in Denver.
Cast
- Martin Mull as Harvey Holroyd
- Tuesday Weld as Kate Holroyd
- Jennifer McAllister as Joanie Holroyd
- Sally Kellerman as Martha
- Sam Chew Jr. as Bill, Martha's latest husband
- Anthony Battaglia as Stokeley, Martha's son
- Nita Talbot as Angela Stone
- Bill Macy as Sam Stone
- Pamela Bellwood as Carol
- Barbara Rhoades as Vivian
- Ann Weldon as Rachel, Martha's housekeeper
- Peter Bonerz as Dr. Leonard Miller, a psychiatrist
- Christopher Lee as Luckman ("Skull")
- Patch Mackenzie as Stella
- Stacey Nelkin as Marlene
- Tom Smothers as Spike
- Clark Brandon as Spenser
- Paul Rossilli as Paco
- Robin Sherwood as Woman Saltzburger
Critical reception
Vito Russo wrote that "the film is permeated with hatred for gays" and that it was "the perfect antifeminist, homophobic statement to usher in the age of Ronald Reagan."[2]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.1/10.[3]
References
- ^ Serial at Box Office Mojo
- ISBN 0-06-096132-5.
- ^ "Serial". Rotten Tomatoes.
External links
- Serial at IMDb
- Josh Olson on Serial at Trailers from Hell
- Serial at Rotten Tomatoes
