First Love

If you came of age in the 70s from a middle to upper-middle-class white family, or you just like a good dialog-based story with Cat Stevens in the background, you'll enjoy this one. Interestingly, there are no ethnic minorities portrayed in this film.

William Katt personifies the 70s nice guy better than anyone else can. I actually totally believed the scenario. It was his first love, but not hers. He was a freshman, while she was possibly a senior, and she was from a rich, educated background, while his parents owned a hardware store in presumably a small town. He was in awe of her beauty, her age, her sophistication, and even her inaccessibility. You could see it all in his eyes and mannerism, thanks to Katt's earnest effort.

Having another person in your life full time is complex and high maintenance, even under the best conditions. Add youth to the mix, and it's even harder. This movie does a fine job of portraying the three elements of a new relationship: Learning about and dealing with the other person's baggage, planning daily and weekend activities, and sex.

The music by Cat Stevens and Paul Williams hearken you back to a time when music was sensitive and dreamy, and the words meant something.

I was attracted to some fresh, honest scenes with some frank, honest conversation but it alternated with some inane scenes with some inane conversation. William Katt's acting was sometimes appropriate sometimes not and sometimes obviously limited. Susan Dey's performance was consistently strong and professional. The ending was unsurprising except for the quick, undeveloped writing. The directing of some scenes was strangely bad. So it's a strange and unsatisfying mixture. Dey's beautiful nude body was used naturally and was a pleasant bonus.

William Katt is very cute as a sweet and naive college student learning about love and sex for the first time. The director does a good job conveying this simplicity as the overall motif for the film. A very appropriate Cat Stevens soundtrack also contributes to the proceedings. Susan Dey is quite good as Katt's older-woman love interest. Then, just when the film has us in its grip, it lets us go in an ending of meaningless platitudes. I still liked it overall, but felt a bit let down with the unimaginitve ending.

This is a nice movie. Simple and straightforward. It's about first love. Romance and hope for something more. Its a boys first experience with a girl who is a bit more worldly. It has some sexual scenes, but these are done well. It is not insulting nor nasty in any way. It is a non toxic film and I truly enjoyed it. I might be in the minority, but I am a sucker for movies like this I have seen it a number of times and I think I will eventually purchase it on DVD to have. If you enjoy nice films that make you think or cry or make you wax nostalgic, I think you will enjoy this one. A sweet guy meets a girl who is involved with an older gentleman. She is torn between the young guy who has yet to find himself and the older well established man who is seemingly well to do.These two people meet, have the start of what seems to be a beautiful relationship which eventually goes awry. It is touching and bittersweet. I adored the character played by a very young William Katt ( Greatest American hero Elgin is just so enamored of his new lady love (played by Susan Dey of the Partridge family), but she has secrets. I loved the song in the film which I cant remember.

It is the perfect chick flick. A super movie to see on Valentines day or girls movie night and yes it will bore your boyfriend or husband to death, girls, you will love it and don't forget the tissues. I cry at the drop of a hat, but this one broke my heart.

I guess I bought this because of William Katt, and because I liked him in other things. The plot sounded great too. Now, put William Katt (who I found beautiful in Carrie) along with the plot of him finding 'love' for the first time, it's a winner! Or not. I didn't not like the movie, I actually did like it! But some things I didn't. The music score was great! The 'theme' song by Cat Stevens, and the song by Paul Williams was great! Sometimes I found Katt annoying though, and sometimes you just don't believe his acting. (i.e. the scene on the bridge when him and Susan are fixing to break up again) Other times he's good. This is just a movie about him growing as a person, and learning. John Heard has a little role in the movie, he doesn't show off his acting skills in this though. Overall, it's a nice movie. 6.5/10.