The Object of Beauty (1991)

The Object of Beauty is a mild but charmingly off-kilter romantic comedy. Jake (John Malkovich) and Tina (Andie MacDowell) are floating bons vivants who travel from country to country, running up tabs in swanky hotels and keeping one step ahead of their creditors. The two are genuinely in love-yet the second their ''fortune'' begins to unravel, so do their ties to one another. Writer-director Michael Lindsay-Hogg gently satirizes love in an era of buy-now-pay-later brinkmanship. The film moves at a casual tempo that's often a little too lifelike, but the two stars establish a teasing intimacy. Malkovich makes Jake's haughty belief in his own persuasive powers bizarrely attractive, and MacDowell finds a core of grace in Tina, whose life is a series of carefree addictions (she's hooked on booze, Jake, and the good life). At times, these two spoiled-brat innocents suggest the embattled protagonists of Sid and Nancy, only with charge cards instead of heroin. B

You Might Also Like

• Video Review The Object of Beauty | Lawrence O'Toole
• Movie Review The Object Of Beauty (1991) | Owen Gleiberman
• Movie News Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg on an inanimate star (1991) | Christopher Henrikson
• Movie Review Changeling (Oct 31, 2008) | Owen Gleiberman
• Movie Review Burn After Reading (Sep 12, 2008) | Lisa Schwarzbaum
• Movie News John Malkovich is the Special Addition of the Week (1981)