Word: elgin
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...this point, the viewer tolerates a certain modicum of fatuousness. But about half-way through the encounter scenes of the two lovers-to-be, one begins to have serious doubts about the movie. Caroline, the girl Elgin falls in love with, is played by Susan Dey--former member of the Partridge Family--who does a decent job, considering she must portray one of those vague people who consistently has trouble figuring out what it is all about...
Caroline attracts the very particular Elgin by looking aristocratic, reading French novels and expressing an affinity for the symphony, all of which somehow set her apart from the other girls on campus whom Elgin finds so vulgar and vapid. Caroline confesses her loneliness; Elgin decides this means she is looking for a meaningful relationship. He romantically believes the two of them will transcend the mundaneness of life. Then they discover...
...lacks. The audience can't help feeling that they are watching something that they really do not have any business seeing. After all the moaning and groaning (the most oft-repeated line is "ah...that feels good") it is difficult to believe what is going on between Caroline and Elgin is all that different from the hedonism that Elgin previously renounced...
...poorly executed path. At this point, though, one begins to suspect that Darling has got her tongue in her cheek; the uncertainty of this, however, leaves viewers wondering whether they are wasting their time. The banality peaks at the soccer game: Caroline is in the stands, but to Elgin's distress the coach has kept him on the sidelines. suddenly, one of the players twists an ankle and is carried off the field. Elgin is sent in as a replacement and--you guessed it--saves the game. The film bottoms out when Elgin--teeth gritting and muscles straining--suddenly kicks...
...First Love, Katt and Dey reveal that they have facial expressions in their repertoire other than the gaping, cow-like look of innocence that pervaded until then. Both actors begin to exhibit a fair amount of talent. Katt in particular allows his character to excogitate about the changes Elgin is undergoing with enough sang-froid to indicate that the soccer hero is gaining some perspective on life...