Threesome | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Andrew Fleming |
Written by | Andrew Fleming |
Produced by | Brad Krevoy |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Alexander Gruszynski |
Edited by | William C. Carruth |
Music by | Thomas Newman |
Production company | |
Distributed by | TriStar Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $3 million[1] |
Box office | $14,815,317[2] |
Threesome is a 1994 Americaneroticdramedy film, written and directed byAndrew Fleming and starringLara Flynn Boyle,Stephen Baldwin andJosh Charles. It is an autobiographical comedy mixed with social commentary, and is based on Fleming's college memories. The film was given anR rating by theMotion Picture Association of America.[3]
Due to an administrative error, two male college students — the shy and intellectual Eddy, and theAll-American jock Stuart — end up with a female roommate. The university thought that Alex was a man (based on her name), and thus, the three students are forced to live with each other until the university can move Alex to a female residence hall.
Alex falls in love and tries unsuccessfully to seduce Eddy (who is gay); Eddy falls in love with Stuart; Stuart is in love with Alex. The trio become good friends and scare off anyone who tries to seduce the other. Eventually, Alex, Stuart and Eddy agree to have an actualthreesome that seems to destroy the friendship, and raises the possibility that Alex might have become pregnant.
After the threesome, they start to drift apart. Three weeks later, the semester ends; Alex moves to an apartment and Eddy gets a single dorm. Eddy (the film's narrator) eventually finds a boyfriend, Stuart finds happiness in a monogamous relationship with a woman, and Alex remains single. While they now only see each other for lunch occasionally, they do not seem to regret the friendship they had while in college.
Upon release, the film received negative reviews. The review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes reported that 26% of critics gaveThreesome positive reviews, based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The site's consensus reads, "Threesome's titillating title belies a dreadfully dull drama whose attractive stars are handily outmatched by a shallow script".[4]Peter Travers' review forRolling Stone magazine reads, "We're supposed to get all teary when kinkiness threatens to break up a friendship that was hard to swallow in the first place. There's lots of glossy cinematography, courtesy ofAlexander Gruszynski, as the three lovers wander the campus separately, looking contemplative. Now there's a laugh. Eddy, a film student, actually makes reference toFrançois Truffaut's ménage à trois classic,Jules and Jim. Eddy, you wish."[5]Roger Ebert gave the film three stars and wrote "The dialogue is really the film's strongest element. The three actors are all smart, and able to reflect the way kids sometimes use words, even very bold words, as a mask for uncertainty and shyness."[6]
In 2001, a DVD of the film was released with some special features: a director's audio commentary, an alternate ending, various language subtitles and cast talent files.