I knew a guy in the late 80's who was a very successful womanizer. As a part of his regular modus operandi for seduction, he would invite his date back to his apartment after dinner, open a bottle of wine and pop "About Last Night" in the VCR. It was evidently the perfect aphrodisiac. But lust would be virtually the only reason I could imagine any guy could sit through this a dozen times or so. Rob and Demi really get annoying rather quickly in this. Jim Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins, playing their best friends, seem as irritated with this relationship as most of us are and deliver the best lines and performances in the film and without them this picture would absolutely bomb. Watching it again, some 30 years after it was released it does have some value as a time capsule of the period, especially having lived in Chicago during the late 70's and partaking occasionally in single bar scene in the Rush & Division Street area.

Director Edward Zwick's "About Last Night" is a little bit more difficult to rate than your average movie. Despite for the most part, an annoying Jim Belushi character, the movie has quite a few good moments. The writing is good in spots as is the romance. There's a great scene at a diner "joint" that hits it right. Demi Moore and Rob Lowe indeed look fabulous physically - maybe the best I've ever seen each of them in any movie. One scene in particular of both of them standing on raised platform Chicago train station in snow and winter during the latter half of the movie is simply spectacular. However, they are little over-their- heads in the talent level needed to carry the movie. Both Lowe and Moore sometimes come off either not emotional enough or too emotional. They are decent actors, but not excellent. Elizabeth Perkins in for support may not look as beautiful as Moore, but she's clearly the better actress, and Belushi is again kind of annoying for the most part as the vulgar comic relief. The movie is certainly an 80s splash, with requisite MTV soundtracks and cussing - detractably so. But The drama is there and despite not hitting the stride, or sometimes mis-acted, it carries things. Mildly worth a watch; it's nice to catch a decent 80s drama that I haven't seen and like it overall. Recommended. 6.5/10

Rob Lowe and Demi Moore play a couple who try to make a one night stand into a relationship in the very true to life movie. It explores all the ups and downs of trying to make a relationship work as well as all the doubts and worries if this is the right person etc. James Belushi and Elizabeth McGovern play the role of best friend to Lowe's Danny and Moore's Debbie magnificently. They banter back and forth between each other but you can tell there is a chemistry there between them as well, perhaps even more so than with Danny and Debbie. The movie features Rob Lowe and Demi Moore at their most attractiveness too. They are both very easy on the eyes in this film but yet they still seem down to earth. It is definitely a movie for adults though. It has one of the best nude/sex scenes in my opinion with Demi Moore before her implants. Overall, About Last Night is a perfect date movie for grown ups.

About Last Night... (1986) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Based on David Mamet's play, the film tells the story of Danny (Rob Lowe) and Debbie (Demi Moore) who have a one night stand and then try to build a relationship from it even though both have friends (James Belushi, Elizabeth Perkins) warning them against it. You can find hundreds of love stories from the 80s but in my opinion this one here is without question one of the best even though when viewing it today there are a few problems with it. I think the positives are so strong that you can't help but view them as a contemporary classic. For starters, I think Mamet's play is an incredibly strong one that translates to the screen without any trouble and this is due in large part to the terrific screenplay that has some wonderful dialogue. While watching the film there's no question it deserves its R-rating but the dialogue seems incredibly fresh and like something you would actually hear between friends. The raunchy talk between Lowe and Belushi as well as the "other side" of things done in more adult manner between Moore and Perkins. The screenplay gets everything down so right that you can't help but feel you're watching a real relationship over the course of a year and when you see the ups and downs you feel as if this movie is giving it to you pretty straight. Another major plus are the performances and while the actors themselves might disagree, I'd say this is the best work any of them have done. Lowe and Moore make for the perfect couple and both of them make their characters smart, funny and of course at times dramatic. They are wonderful together during the sexual scenes and they really shine once the relationship gets started and of course begins to sour. Belushi is downright hilarious here and you can't help but wish you had a friend like him. Perkins is also very good in her role. The screenplay is all about relationships both sexually and more emotionally and I think the movie does a very good job at handling both of them. You can tell from the way the film was built that it's based on a play but this never hurts the film. Director Zwick does a very good job at handling the romance and mixing it in with the raunchy comedy and more dramatic moments. I think the film does run a bit too long and there's a bit too much music in it but ABOUT LAST NIGHT... is still one of the more memorable love stories of the decade. With the strong screenplay and performances, it still remains rather fresh after all these years.