Consenting Adults (1992 film)

For the 2007 BBC Four TV movie, see Consenting Adults (BBC).
Consenting Adults

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alan J. Pakula
Produced by Alan J. Pakula
David Permut
Written by Matthew Chapman
Starring Kevin Kline
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Kevin Spacey
Rebecca Miller
E. G. Marshall
Forest Whitaker
Music by Michael Small
Cinematography Stephen Goldblatt
Edited by Sam O'Steen
Production
company
Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures
Release dates
  • October 16, 1992 (1992-10-16)
Running time
 95 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $18 million
Box office $21,591,800

Consenting Adults is a 1992 American mystery crime-thriller film directed by Alan J. Pakula, and stars Kevin Kline, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Kevin Spacey and Rebecca Miller. The original music score was composed by Michael Small. The film's tagline is: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife." This film has been remade in Bollywood as Ajnabee.[1][2][3][4][5]

Plot

Composer Richard Parker and his wife Priscilla live an ordinary suburban life until they meet their new neighbors Eddy and Kay Otis. The two couples became friends. Kay's talent for blues singing gets Richard's attention, and Eddy is attracted to Priscilla. It becomes clear that Eddy is a scam artist who fakes a neck injury after an auto accident for the insurance proceeds, the majority of which he offers to the Parkers as a gift. Eddy chastises Richard for not living dangerously, and suggests they swap mates for an evening.

The plot takes a nasty turn when Richard does sleep with Kay (supposedly without her realizing that he is not her husband) and Kay turns up bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat the next morning. Later it is revealed that Eddy spent the night elsewhere, to establish an airtight alibi. Richard's fingerprints are on the bat (the two couples having played a friendly game of softball earlier that day) and his semen is found in her body, so he is charged with the crime. Insult is added to injury as Priscilla disowns and divorces Richard due to his infidelity. Eddy soon becomes Priscilla's lover and a substitute father to Richard's child.

A distraught Richard finally finds a ray of hope when he discovers that Kay is alive, recognizing her voice singing in a radio talent show. With the help of a private investigator hired by the insurance company from which Eddy is attempting to collect a $1.5 million indemnity claim, Richard tracks her down and learns the truth of how he was betrayed. Kay is guilt-ridden over her part in it, but terrified at Eddy's threat to implicate her if she testifies. Eddy, anticipating what Richard intends to do next, murders Kay and slips away. Implicated in a second murder, Richard must now flee the scene as police sirens approach.

Priscilla discovers a forgotten plane ticket Eddy used on the night of the second murder. Now realizing Eddy's guilt, she worries over what to do about it. Richard performs a commando-style raid on Eddy's house, but Eddy, anticipating this move as well, reveals to Priscilla his plan to murder her and shoot Richard as a homicidal intruder. Working together, Richard and Priscilla eventually kill Eddy, using the original murder weapon, the baseball bat. Richard and Priscilla are later seen moving into a very secluded house with no neighbors visible for miles.

Cast

Actor Role
Kevin Kline Richard Parker
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Priscilla Parker
Kevin Spacey Eddy Otis
Rebecca Miller Kay Otis
Forest Whitaker David Duttonville (insurance adjuster)
E. G. Marshall George Gutton
Kimberly McCullough Lori Parker

Reception

The film received negative reviews from critics. It currently holds a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

References

  1. ↑ Maslin, Janet. "Consenting Adults (1992)". nytimes.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Consenting Adults(1992)". movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen. "Consenting Adults (1992)". ew.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Film Consenting Adults (1992)". tvguide.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Consenting Adults - Movies Filmed in South Carolina - Internet Film ...". filmsc.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.

External links

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