Main Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Helen Slater, Kevin Hardesty, Marius Weyers
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A college student clashes with his co-ed roommate, then falls for her in this romantic comedy. Sheltered freshman Chris Wooden (Patrick Dempsey) arrives at his university ready to hone his writing skills. His hard-partying roommate, however, proves to be a distraction. Alex Page (Helen Slater) -- short for Alexandra -- has been placed on a guys' floor by mistake, and the aspiring actress/good-time girl drives Chris crazy. Eventually, as both students hone their respective crafts and spend more time together, they become friends and finally lovers. But Alex's freewheeling ways put a kink in things; Chris is an old-fashioned guy, and he wants a plain-vanilla girlfriend. Things come to a head when a random biker Alex promised to marry shows up looking to rearrange Chris' face. Happy Together is one of the few feature credits of Mel Damski, who has directed countless TV movies since the late '70s. Astute viewers will notice a pre-Thelma and Louise Brad Pitt in a small role. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
Although it's patchy and a bit too traditional in its gender roles, this romantic comedy proves winning on the strength of its lead performances and the deadpan humor of its supporting cast and script. Offbeat laughs, teensploitation antics, and even an inventive production number -- all take place in a believable university setting, which is no mean feat. Even better, there's a bit of real chemistry between protagonist Patrick Dempsey and leading lady Helen Slater. Nobody will ever accuse Happy Together of being a towering cinematic achievement, but its mixture of slapstick, romance, and coming-of-age drama has aged better than the formulaic story lines of many turn-of-the-decade teen comedies. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Barbara Babcock - Ruth Carpenter; Gloria Hayes - Luisa Dellacova; Brad Pitt - Brian; J.C. Quinn - Dad; Tom Tarpey - Bus Driver; Kate Hall - Jo; Rocky Parker - Librarian/Biker's Girlfriend; Bryan J. Thompson - Waiter; Shawne Rowe - Geri; Dan Schneider - Stan
Credit
Jeffrey Fleisig - Associate Producer, Caro Jones - Casting, Jeffrey Calhoun - Choreography, Jeff Calhoun - Choreography, Dona Granata - Costume Designer, Mel Damski - Director, O. Nicholas Brown - Editor, Patrick McIntire - Location Manager, Robert Folk - Composer (Music Score), Marcia Hinds-Johnson - Production Designer, Joe Pennella - Cinematographer, Charles Schnerr - Cinematographer, Jere Henshaw - Producer, Walter Hoylman - Sound Mixer, Craig Nevius - Screenwriter, Shane D. Kelly - Gaffer, Benita Brazier - Script Supervisor
Happy Together is a 1989 American romantic comedy film starring Patrick Dempsey and Helen Slater. The film was marketed with the taglines, "Roommates by accident...lovers by choice", and "How do I love thee, Let me count the ways...".
Plot
Christopher (Dempsey) is a very serious minded young man. Enrolling into college as a freshman he finds his roommate is someone named Alex. Alex (Slater), however, is not male but female and the two have been placed together by a computer error. Christopher finds the pairing intolerable and tries his best to find another place to live. The dorms are full and he is resigned, at least for the time being, to make the best of his current situation. Alex, a seemingly extroverted party girl, shows little interest in academics and treats Christopher as if he is simply an annoyance to be brushed aside whenever need be.
As fate intervenes, the two slowly begin to realize that they do like one another after all which manifests itself into a sexual relationship wherein each finds a need filled by the other.
