Three Of Hearts MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3 1/2

At least one movie critic has hailed this comedy-drama of lesbian love and male prostitution as charming and open-hearted. The two lesbian lovers featured in the story are genuine, caring women, and their lifestyle is portrayed as completely acceptable with no stigma. They live in New York City where one is a nurse and the other a college instructor. Trauma strikes when Ellen (Sherilyn Fenn), the attractive instructor, tells Connie (Kelly Lynch) that she wants to break up and have some "breathing room." From that point on, the story describes Connie's desperate attempt to win Ellen back. Her principal weapon is Joe Casella (William Baldwin) a likeable, smooth talking male escort and prostitute. Connie hires Joe to win over Ellen, then leave her, in hopes that Ellen will return to her in despair. In between his affairs with wealthy, older women, Joe starts courting Ellen, but finds himself becoming more involved that he had planned. All three of the main characters give fine performances and have winsome personalities. However, discriminating viewers will have difficulty in enjoying this story about people with such degenerate lifestyles.

Along with its light hearted moments, the film has its darker side. Joe is shown in two graphic bedroom sex encounters with an older woman in skimpy undergarments. He and Ellen also engage in a prolonged, passionate implied intercourse scene. Joe works for a sex-talk phone service and some of the conversations in his office become sexually explicit. He also gets in trouble with a hoodlum who has his henchmen viciously beat Joe one day. In her grief, Connie frequently looks at intimate photos and video tapes of her and Ellen, but these are only mildly suggestive. Also, lesbians are occasionally shown hugging, caressing and dancing together. Viewers are brutally bombarded with over 60 obscenities, including many f- and s-words and regular profanities. The one redeeming feature comes when Ellen finds she loves Joe and apparently overcomes her homosexual desires. However, her troubles are not over yet. Paradoxically, THREE OF HEARTS develops sympathy for homosexuals and their lifestyles while showing that the lifestyle can be overcome. It also subjects viewers to incessant reprehensible language and sexual behavior.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: New Line Cinema, 888 7th Ave., 20th Floor, NY, NY 10106