Parallel Lives (TV 1994)

This is a nostalgic look at the typical "Class Reunion" of a group after about a quarter of a century of going their separate ways after graduation. The girls that used to be pretty and the... See full summary »

Director:

Linda Yellen

Writers:

Gisela Bernice, Linda Yellen (story)

Stars:

James Belushi, Liza Minnelli, Michael O'Rourke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Belushi	...	Nick Dimas
Liza Minnelli	...	Stevie Merrill
Michael O'Rourke	...	Kirk O'Brien
James Brolin	...	Professor Spencer Jones
Helen Slater	...	Elsa Freedman
LeVar Burton	...	Dr. Franklin Carter
Jack Klugman	...	Senator Robert Ferguson
Grant Varjas	...	Grayson Stone
Patricia Wettig	...	Rebecca Ferguson Stone
Ben Gazzara	...	Charlie Duke
Mira Sorvino	...	Matty Derosa
Lindsay Crouse	...	Una Pace
Paul Sorvino	...	Ed Starling
Matthew Perry	...	Willie Morrison
David Lansbury	...	Tim Farley

Storyline

This is a nostalgic look at the typical "Class Reunion" of a group after about a quarter of a century of going their separate ways after graduation. The girls that used to be pretty and the ugly ones have someway become beautiful. The guys that were the most handsome are not necessarily the best looking guys anymore. Some of the once homely guys and girls are better with age.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 August 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vidas Paralelas

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Showtime Networks, Sundance Institute, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Almost entirely improvised by the actors.

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Soundtracks

"Parallel Lives"
Music & Lyrics by Patrick Seymour
Performed within film by Lindsay Crouse & Dudley Moore
Performed over ending credits by Maxayne Lewis
Produced by Patrick Seymour & Art Wood

User Reviews

Beware! Improv at work...

Improv is one of those wonderful acting tools that, in recent times, has grown to become painfully overrated and overused. While occasionally, a Robert De Niro or Harvey Keitel might be able to pull it off, improvisation is a tricky thing to make compelling and in the wrong hands, it can be painfully pretentious, dull, and trite. Parallel Lives is a film that was improved by the wrong hands.

Basically, the plot deals with a bunch of people gathering for a fraternity/sorority reunion. Secrets come out, subplot converge, and Treat Williams ends up getting murdered. Jack Klugman shows up as a senile Senator, Mira Sorvino gets to look sexy as hustler Ben Gazzara's blonde girlfriend, and Dudley Moore floats around as some bizarre fantasy creature. Oh, and Jim Belushi's there for some reason. Technically, he's the focus of the film's plot. Too bad that plot vanishes under a heap of acting exercises.

Apparently, director Linda Yellen specializes in making improvised films -- all featuring her all-star gallery of friends attempting to impress us with how witty and insightful they are. This film has an amazingly diverse cast

-- famous non-stars and has-beens continually wander through, creating the impression that the film was shot in a West Hollywood Unemployment agency. Along with those already mentioned, the film features everyone from Liza to Levar Burton to Ally Sheedy to Robert Wagner to a bunch of other actors no sane person would currently pay money to see. Imagine that, folks, 20 or so unimportant actors getting together to make one unimportant movie.

Its a pity that with such a huge cast, nobody apparently had anything to say.