Just One Time (II) (1998) User Reviews

A good comedy about how confused life can be when a sexual dream is to become reality...

[johan.hjalmarsson.868 · 7/10 · 21 May 2000]

Just One Time starts from an age-old premise - every straight boy's 'readers' wives fantasy of getting it on with two girls at the same time... Anthony is a New York firefighter engaged to Amy, the woman of his dreams, and heading for wedded bliss within the fortnight. But Anthony's a good Catholic boy, and wants to get a long-standing fantasy off his chest before settling down to a respectable future. Amy's less than thrilled by the concept of a three-way so, like the good lawyer she is, suggests a deal: she'll do same-sex but only if he will too!

A funny film, although very predictable to some extent. The fact that it has been a part of many gay and lesbian film festivals around the world does not limit the joy for straight people. This is a film for anyone who appreciates a good comedy!

not the best, but definately an enjoyable comedy

[cloud1978 · 6/10 · 6 June 2001]

i watched this film and i must say although it wasn't the best comedy i have seen it is very funny, and silly, and enjoyable. a good date movie. Guillermo Díaz is awesome as the young & cute boy next door, and is as funny as ever. rent this one.

Fuchsia sneakers?!

[mermatt · 24 May 2001]

This is a cute tale of a fireman, his fiancee, and the young man who has a crush on the fireman. The fireman has always fantasized about a threesome with two women, and as part of a bachelor party wish, his fiancee agrees -- but not to the threesome he had in mind.

Turn-about is fair play, right? Male chauvinism collides with energetic feminism and latent gayness -- and sparks fly. After all, it is better than a broken arm or a dead mother, right? What a test of manhood! Why didn't someone think of this before?

It's too bad that this film isn't better known because it's a gender-bender with lots of fun. The sausage and fish discussion ranks up there with Lawrence Olivier and Tony Curtis' culinary chat in SPARTACUS.

One of many morals to the story is -- be careful of what you wish for. And if you wish for a light fun film, see this one.

Should Be Renamed: One Narcissistic Time...or...One Big Yawn!

[liberalgems · 1/10 · 2 June 2007]

Sorry, call me old fashioned, but I like to care about at least one of the story's characters! Unfortunately, Just On Time, has the feel of a moronic T.V. sitcom, and is so tedious it ruins the fun. Simply put - I could not feel the slightest bit of rapport with anyone in this boring film! It's such a juvenile storyline, but not the least bit funny. One can only hope people this dopey only exist in the writer's imagination!

In case anyone is wondering, the word "Narcissistic" means: egotistical, selfish, self-centered, me-first, and that exactly describes the main character. There's more than enough narcissism in the world! I don't need to watch it on the tube, too!

Silly, Cute and Funny

[YAS · 8/10 · 6 July 2001]

It's a movie like angel food cake -- light, fluffy, insubstantial, and a bit sweet. Unexpected little plot twists and some surprisingly witty dialogue make it a good accompaniment for a big bowl of popcorn on a night when you're not up for anything heavy and meaningful. Hey, sometimes you just want to laugh, and this is just the ticket.

Charming, Clever and just a little sexy

[CoolRobert · 10/10 · 28 March 2002]

I didn't have high expectations for this film, but I was blown away. This was obviously a labor of love for Lane Janger (star, writer, director). The characters are sweet, attractive and funny. The film has a great sense of humor, scoring laughs, but never getting silly. It's a uniquely touching look at relationships that avoids the cliches and sappiness of the big Hollywood romantic comedies. Why can't more independent films be as well put together as this and why can't more Hollywood romances be this smart? A definite recommendation.

Go Watched it, a very funny movie

[dgerous · 9/10 · 18 June 2000]

Just saw this at the SF Gay and Lesbian Film festival. Though this is in fact not a gay and lesbian movie, the subplot itself is just so gay and so funny... it all started when the guy asked his to be wife in ten days if she could fulfill a life long fantasy for him... he wants her to make out with a girl so that he could watch... and then she turned the tables on him by asking the same of him... ie he is to make out with a guy just for her... and all this for JUST ONE TIME...

The movies develops from there... about the confusion and stuff... the director, who wrote the screenplay and play the main lead is impressive and the young kid, Guillermo Díaz, an Antonio Banderas look alike is also very very good.

Go watched it when it is released.... a real fun movie.

I laughed! I cried! I made a disgusted face!

[silntbob-3 · 23 August 1999]

Just One Time is a truly funny movie about a guy who gets a taste of his own medicine. He wants his girlfriend to have a lesbian encounter so he can watch and gratify himself. But she is disgusted by his request and leaves him to his porn magazines. Meanwhile a gay admirer of his meets his girlfriend downstairs and it has a twist ending that may not be for people who do not like homosexuals. but i laughed very hard. irony is sweet.

promising talent, indeed

[enojones · 8/10 · 29 June 2008]

Okay, I'm watching the "Mexican" gangster king on Weeds, and I'm thinking, "something strangely familiar"..

Yep, yep... 2+2 does = 4.

"Little" Anthony's fuchsia sport shoes have carried him to many films and television shows, but this comedic film (originally a short) remains a favorite. Along with several other vanity and indie short films during the 1990's and early 00's, this became full-feature film. Some films, like this one, seemed to simply expand a compact plot into longer running time, but others do better in using the short as basis for feature film to expand the character roles.

Ah, the Frailty of Manhood!

[tim.halkin · 8 February 2003]

There is potential here, and it shines through occasionally, but unfortunately not consistently.

Despite the fact that the ultimate effect is cute (isn't that a terrible word to describe a film?!) and charming, I found myself scratching my head once or twice about the basic premise of this sometimes enchanting little ditty. I guess Janger is trying to warn us that no fantasy lives up to the reality. OK...an age-old piece of wisdom...no arguments here, BUT he never REALLY lets his two lead characters experience their fantasies. They just seem to get lost and frustrated on the road leading up to it.

Anthony (Janger's character) wants to see his beloved fiancée, Amy (played by a very winning Jennifer Esposito), have sex Just One Time with another woman before they get married and HAVE to put their fantasies to bed. That's where the first question arises: why do married couples have to stop having fantasies? OK, small detail, let's move on...

Amy does not want to grant her beloved Anthony his somewhat cliché, pubescent, masturbatory fantasy, and tries to get around the problem by one-upping him: if he has sex with a man for her, she'll give herself to a woman for him. Now pride and egos start getting in the way of anyone calling the nonsense off. Enter Guillermo Diaz: your excuse for a romantic comedy's gay sidekick. Not to say that Mr. Diaz plays his role poorly; he's actually very winning! That said, his role is no more than a convenient plot devise: the sweet, non-threatening, virginal gay neighbor, who enters on cue, but never causes too much discomfort, either for Anthony or the viewer. Same goes for the conveniently lesbian neighbor played by Joelle Carter, who is planted there to give Amy her brush with homosexuality.

Whereas Amy at least gets a lesbian kiss of free will out of it all, before she throws up her hands and screams, "bring on the bands and ring the wedding bells", Anthony stays annoyingly heterosexual. Oh, he does have a kiss, but it's aggressive and full of anger and frustration. When he wakes up the next morning next to his token gay friend, he's horrified at the idea that something might have transpired. Thank God, his bedmate is able to clear that fright up within 30 seconds!

Actually, a rather insulting bit of tripe, but if even the more emotionally self-assured and mature homosexuals were generous enough to forgive heterosexual men their occasional lapses of taste and decorum for the sake of defending their obviously fragile manhood, then everyone might actually enjoy the 94 minutes that this film has to offer.

Very funny full-length movie from Lane Janger's short of the same name.

[ssmock · 10/10 · 21 May 2000]

This is the best movie I saw during the first weekend of the Seattle International Film Festival. Funny, well written and even a little thought provoking. See this! You may have a chance to see this at a film festival or when it opens (If I remember Lane Janger's comments during the Q&A after the film) in select cities in late summer, 2000.

You should go see this movie when it is released on 3/23/01!

[duenas · 9/10 · 16 March 2001]

I saw this film on 3/15/01 and enjoyed it much more than I expected to. When I heard it was about a guy whose fantasy is to have a threesome with his fiance and another woman, it just sounded very typical. However, there's a twist to this movie. The fiance agrees to do it if the guy (Anthony) will hook up with another man (the gay neighbour kid who has a crush on him, Victor). So the rest of the movie is about whether or not each of them is going to do it and there are some very funny and touching moments. Janger plays a convincing straight guy. And Jennifer Esposito (Michelle) and Guillermo Diaz (Victor) are also quite good.

The "message" of the movie is that when two people are in love, that that should be enough for both of them. Some fantasies are meant to remain just that, fantasies. It is also about acceptance and compassion and coming to terms with one's identity.

There is a very predictable twist at the end of the film, but I don't want to be a "spoiler" so I won't say what it is. But if you don't see it coming after the first 30 minutes, you probably have a difficult time finding your way home everyday. :) Still, even though it is a very predictable and obvious twist, it is a pleasant one!

Delightful Lane Janger deserves a much greater audience...

[ccmiller1492 · 9/10 · 3 April 2003]

Lane Janger is delightful in this bit of risque froth...his delivery and timing are perfect for comedy but would be just as good in drama. We need to see a lot more of him than in "Just One Time", with his obvious talent it's a sure bet we will.

excellent, even if somewhat predictable

[nick-323 · 10/10 · 13 August 2000]

The film shown at GLBT Film Festival generated a great deal of laughter and a few tears. It showed very clearly the struggle of dealing with homophobia from others and yourself. I loved these characters and the setup. The cast super sexy especially Anthony(Lane) and Michelle, would have been nice to see that hookup. Funniest gay bar scene ever!!! The only disappointment was the somewhat predictableness as the movie can to its close.

All-around Fun Film

[wildplanet · 22 October 2000]

I just saw this film last night (10/21/00) and liked it a lot. It ain't Shakespeare, but it is a very light, sexy, independent film with likable actors/characters. I recommend it.

The plot involves an engaged couple who each trade fantasies. He has always wanted to sleep with his fiancee together with another woman. His fiancee agrees, but only if he agrees to sleep with her together with another guy. Quid Pro Quo. She is really trying to teach him a bit of a lesson, but by the end of the film, they each learn a lesson about themselves and about their relationship.

I enjoyed this movie a lot primarily b/c I liked, "I Think I Do" very much. They seemed so similar. Today I checked the Internet Movie Database and it turns out that, not coincidentally, the star/co-writer/director of this film is Lane Janger. Mr. Janger also co-produced "I Think I Do" (and gets a close-up in that film playing the bit part of a wedding bartender).

He does consistently good work.