Threesome

Shown as a preview in October 1994

Threesome marks Andrew Fleming's second outing as director, and makes full use of the, perhaps familiar premise, of a girl named Alex (Boyle) being assigned to a male dormitory suite due to a misunderstanding over her name.

The two room-mates, somewhat surprised by her appearance, are Stuart (Baldwin), a know-all womaniser, and Eddy (Charles), a hard working, sensitive student.

Threesome uses this situation to focus on the three characters forced to live together, and their emotions towards one another. Stuart is of course attracted to Alex, whilst Alex is more interested in the sensitive Eddy. In turn, Eddy begins to realise that he is attracted to Stuart, and overactive hormones lead to a classic love triangle.

Whilst the film entertainingly kicks between drama and comedy, it works well in drawing the viewer into these three mismatched students' lives, and makes an enjoyable, and refreshingly light, evening's entertainment.

Chris Hughes.

Three students sharing a flat on campus decide to embark upon a journey of sexual discovery... in the same bed, all at once.

Alex (Lara Flynn Boyle), due to one of those Senate house mix-ups, finds herself sharing a dorm room with the slobby Stuart (Stephen, one of the many Baldwin clones) and a shy, softly-spoken guy (Josh Charles, of Dead Poets Society). Pretty soon, hormones start to kick in and, despite their efforts to remain just friends, they begin to make sexual lunges at each other. Unfortunately, their lust doesn't seem to coincide with their romantic agendas: Baldwin fancies Boyle, Boyle's after Charles and Charles is attracted to ... Baldwin! A solution quickly thrusts itself to mind.

I could try to claim that this is a steamy, flesh-filled romp guaranteed not to leave a dry seat in L3... but it's not exactly that. It's not you're average episode of Grange Hill either. A bizarre mix of (dare I say it?) wacky comedy, and thought-provoking drama, Threesome is an enjoyable, if somewhat odd, coming-of-age movie. Sharply written and endearingly performed, it manages to capture exactly what life is like on campus: not a lot of work, but quite a lot of three-in-the-bed romps and general sexual deviancy. Um... well, okay, perhaps not.

The only question I was left pondering when it was finished was: what is this fascination with interrupting each other when they're on the toilet?

Mark Chambers