Pyromaniac's Love Story, A MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -1/2

Once upon a time in a close, ethnic neighborhood, a pastry boy, Sergio (John Leguizamo), loves a waitress named Hattie (Sadie Frost). He has no money and she dreams of traveling the world. The pastry shop owner, Mr. Linzer (Armin Mueller-Stahl), is going broke. To save something for his wife, he suggests Sergio burn down his building so Mr. Linzer can collect the insurance. Sergio refuses, and is dumbfounded when the bakery burns. He assumes that Mr. Linzer did it. The truth is Garet (William Baldwin), a rather flaky pyromaniac, torched the building to show his girlfriend, Stephanie (Erika Eleniak), the heat of his love. Then Sergio is offered money by Garet's (William Baldwin) father to confess to the arson. Before it's over, four of the characters confess to the crime, each because they love and want to protect someone. Since this is a fairy tale, it all works out happily in the end. A PYROMANIAC'S LOVE STORY is a fluff of a movie, amusing but very predictable.

The movie is really about love - Sergio and Hattie, Garet and Stephanie, Mr. Linzer and his wife. All love each other and go to various lengths to prove it. Kissing is regarded as very serious, and nothing further sexual is mentioned, much less shown. The parents also love their children. As badly as Sergio wants money to give Hattie the trip of her dreams, he refuses to commit arson. Garet wants to pay fully for for his crime. Strangely enough, much of the violence, though not severe, comes from Hattie and Stephanie. Hattie chokes one man, belts Garet and pushes Sergio, supposedly to make her seem feisty. Stephanie emulates her by knocking down Garet. Somehow that, plus gratuitous crudities, keep A PYROMANIAC'S LOVE STORY from being a thoroughly charming fantasy.

Preview Reviewer: Margaret Reid
Distributor: Buena Vista Distribution, 3900 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91521