When we first meet architect Ray (James Spader), he's sitting outside a courtroom with his newly ex-wife, Martha. They still care for each other, but know that together, they are like oil and water, and that this is the end for them. Knowingly, Martha says "Someday, you're going to meet the woman for you, and when you do, she's going to be the luckiest girl in the world." In fact, she's already jealous of the mystery woman.

Spader, the ultimate whitebread WASP character, gets to play another of the upper class yuppies he does really well (and, yeah, he is cute...)

Ray has strange dream sequences that occur throughout the film. He's at a carnival, and the clowns all treat him like he's their best buddy...showing him details about his life that even he doesn't realize until they are shown to him.

One evening, he attends an art opening with his friends Larry (Frederic Lehne), Elaine (Bess Armstrong), and Norman (Larry Miller). While trying to avoid a buxom, man-crazy blind date that Norman has arranged, he accidentally bumps into an extremely angry woman and ruins her dress. She gives him an earful and stalks off.

Several nights later, he's at the neighborhood grocery and runs into the hellcat (Madchen Amick), now contrite about her behavior, and actually almost flirty. Ray realizes she's the embodiment of the "perfect woman" he, Norman, Larry, and Elaine described weeks before: Beautiful, dark haired, and artsy. She introduces herself as Lena.

Quite honestly, I find Madchen Amick completely gorgeous. If I was gay, I would be smitten. She's incredibly pale, with highlighted dark hair and dramatic eyebrows. Her stunning porcelain skin and trim physique are shown to great effect here. The entire effect is one of convincing the viewer, as well as Ray that she is indeed his "Dream Lover."

In spite of their bags of groceries, he convinces her to head to a nearby sushi bar, and they have an enjoyable dinner. She tells him about her life (college at Swarthmore, her knowledge of Japanese, and a few other juicy details) But abruptly, she leaves him at her front door afterward.

Practically nuts with trying to discover her identity, Ray finally goes back to her downtown apartment and waits outside. When he does finally work up the courage to go up, she acts much differently...cold, standoffish, and devoid of feeling. Until he grabs her. They proceed to have randy sex over and over until...

we see them at their wedding! Things progress apace, and Lena gives birth to Tina, and then to baby Bob. But beneath the surface, things are not as they were. The sex is not as often or as great. Ray tells Larry that it's almost become like a business.

And there'a nagging doubt beginning to grow in Ray's mind that Lena is not who she says she is. Several people have asked her if she's Cissy, from Pyrue, Texas. And she has to politely explain that she's formerly Lena Reardon, now Lena Mathers.

His doubts disturb him so much that he tells her he's going on a business trip, but instead heads to Pyrue. He runs into her ex-boyfriend Buddy, a hulking bubba who hints at Cissy's sexual shenanigans in the past ("She did things to me I can't even pronounce," he smiles sardonically). Buddy gives him directions to Cissy's parents, and he learns that she has told them that Ray works for the CIA, and THAT's why they haven't been able to visit or see the grandkids.

Ray confronts her with her parents upon his return, and she explains to him about her desperation to get out of Texas, and how she didn't want to end up in a broken down town with a broken down life. She apologizes to him about the lie and hopes that he'll still love her.

But soon, Ray comes to realize that Lena is most definitely having an affair, and when he confronts her, the delicate, beautiful "dream lover" goddess becomes his worst nightmare. Know what a 5150 is? You will if you watch!

I cannot tell you any more in good conscience. With a name like "Dream Lover" you knew it had to be too good to be true though, right?

For a lower budget, probably direct-to-video release, I really liked it. The acting is pretty good, and the direction is crisp and clean. We see the trendiness of LA (the loft apartments, sushi bars and art galleries), and the rural Pyrue. The chemistry between the leads is palpable. And get ready for some steamy sex scenes (with and without string of pearls). Even with the heavy subject matter, the humorous scenes are lightweight and believable.

Dream Lover was directed in 1993 by Nicholas Kazan. It clocks in at 103 minutes. Rated R.

Also starring:
Kathleen York, Blair Tefkin, Scott Coffey, William Shockley, Clyde Kusatsu



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age