Mr. Jealousy (1998)

I caught this movie on cable one night and about laughed my head off. Needless to say, it's not very well-known and I'm surprised it doesn't have a large cult base--how can this be!?! I don't know anyone who's seen it, besides the friends I've recommended it to. Great quotes, simple unpretentious non-fluffy script, funny take on how far jealousy can get you (or not). Carlos Jacott and John Lehr are ridiculously hilarious. "It's fun just to follow people sometimes. Anyone." I've always loved Chris Eigeman's matter-of-fact, dry tone. Eric Stoltz and Annabella Sciorra have great chemistry and play a persuading couple. It's not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood movie, but it's quite clever. Go rent it if you can find it. Heck, buy it if you can find it.

The thing this film has going for it is a great hook - the main plot has such a smart take (SPOiler ****** SPOILER **** SPOILER)ON the whole group therapy scene and how the lead character uses it to keep tabs on an ex-boyfriend of his current girlfriend (who he is very jealous about). Eric Stoltz (who is capable of good work: Mask, Pulp Fiction and lame, sleepwalking work: Killing Zoe, many others) is strong in the title role and gets great support from the rest of the cast especially from Chris Eigeman who gives a three dimensional performance as the successful writer/ex-boyfriend. Smartly written, my only problem with the film is the unfocused, rambling beginning. The movie doesnt really click until the first therapy session - then it just keeps rolling along into uncomfortable, delightful comedy.

MR. JEALOUSY doesn't aspire to greatness; just a small, quirky, romantic comedy. To this end it succeeds. Set in Manhattan, Eric Stoltz plays a young thirty-something wannabe writer earning a living as a substitute teacher. Annabella Sciorra plays his girlfriend, and they are falling in love with one another. Eric's problem is that he is pathologically jealous and is being eaten away by thoughts of one of her earlier lovers who is now a successful writer. So obsessed is Eric that he joins the ex-boyfriend's group therapy session under the guise of his best friend. And far from being irate, the friend begins to dig on this, receiving therapy vicariously through Eric.Of course the whole shebang unravels and...well that's the movie. As far as 'date' movies go, this is better than most and is heartily recommended for the guys when the lady wants this kind of movie brought home.

For all of you Whit Stillman fans (Metropolitan, Barcelona, and Last Days of Disco) check out this movie as well as Noah's earlier film Kicking and Screaming. The premise of the movie is very good and it lives up to its title. If you hate the kind of movie where everyone spends the whole movie talking to one another then skip this one because there are not any jokes involving people being kicked in their midsection or everyone's favorite bathroom humor. Instead you have an intelligent comedy that will add nothing of value to your life but will hopefully make you laugh as you examine other peoples neurosis. I think that there is chemistry between Stoltz and Sciorra despite what a previous reviewer said. I also think this film is better than Kicking and Screaming.