Endless Love (1981)

In 1979, Scott Spencer published his book Endless Love, a novel about 17-year-old David Axelrod and his dangerous obsession with his girlfriend, Jade. Two years later, a film adaptation of the same name came out and disastrously missed the point of its source material. While this is no strange feat in Hollywood, it's difficult to point fingers on who, exactly, is to blame for claiming that David really was in love Jade and vice versa when the novel goes so far to explain that this isn't the case, as there doesn't seem to be much information widely available regarding the production of the film. Part of me feels that it's more likely the fault of studio meddling; after all, the popular love ballad of the same name gained this film its only Academy Award and Golden Globe. And I don't believe that the screenwriter nor director were completely oblivious to the symbolism present in the novel, given an early scene in the film where David and Jade dress similarly to a bride and groom, attend a party where Jade declares that David is part of the family, and then have sex, presumably for the first time.

However, it's difficult to defend this film much further, as it seems completely oblivious to and unsure of its own message. Perhaps this is best demonstrated through the scene where David sets Jade's house on fire: a crucial moment meant to represent the danger that infatuation masquerading as love presents to everyone involved is promptly reduced to nothing as the film continues fumbling about in sorry excuses to draw sympathy for David. The inability for Endless Love to make up its mind on what it wants to be creates extra discomfort through plot points like Jade's mother openly admitting her sexual attraction to David after watching David and Jade having sex because there doesn't seem to be any reason behind it. Just as concerning is the overt romanticization of David's abusive tactics, especially in response to Jade's unwillingness to comply to the very demands that lead to tragedy to begin with, only for the film to show that Jade is just as in love with David as David claims he is with Jade, and that Jade most likely will forgive him for his actions in the latter half of the movie which can only be described as parole violation at best and stalking and manslaughter at worst.

Outside of these particularly grievous issues, there's not too much more to comment on with Endless Love, simply because it doesn't have much to say and there's not much interesting going on technically. There are some moments where the cinematography feels awkward and clumsy, which only highlights that the script never fares much better, but everything else feels average for a bad 80s movie. The biggest point of interest is, of course, the fact that Endless Love is Tom Cruise's film debut. Even then, however, his role is too minor to comment on anything of interest outside of the fact that he was only 18 when it was filmed.

Sporting some borderline Daisy Dukes, no less.

Endless Love is mildly interesting for anyone who's interested in watching a confused adaptation of a superior novel, but otherwise, there isn't a lot here to pick apart or enjoy. Fortunately, Cruise's next film appearance proves to be more substantial.

Rating: 2/5 - January 13, 2020