Three years after director Cameron Crowe hit romantic comedy pay dirt with the emotionally thrilling Say Anything, a film with wonderful dialog and a believable, touching story line, he tried to do the same thing in the same town, but even hipper since Seattle was the new L.A., with Singles. It was a noble effort, I suppose, if you operate under the idea that every subculture of every generation really needs a film about what it's like to be emotionally involved with someone else in that subculture. Yes, the Nineties really were that self-important.

Basic Rundown
Singles focuses on the story of two couples, though other characters make their love lives known. Steve, played by Campbell Scott, and Linda, played by Kyra Sedgwick, carry the bulk of the emotional load; Cliff (Matt Dillon) and Janet (Bridget Fonda), however, appear on the cover of the movie and take top billing because they're bigger names.
Janet is convinced that she's in love with Cliff, the douchebag frontman for the failing grunge band Citizen Dick. He doesn't really care about her, she eventually realizes it, then he wants her back. Pretty basic story. It almost seems like it was thrown in for two reasons, (1) to beef up a lightweight script, and (2) as an excuse to get Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam to make a cameo as the other guys in Citizen Dick.
Steve meets Linda at a club where Alice in Chains are playing (another of the many Seattle scene cameos, Soundgarden show up on the same stage later in the film), even though they both stand out like sore thumbs at the show. Linda had been hurt at the start of the movie, so she's loathe to hook up with Steve, who gives his back story when we meet him, even though it doesn't really play into the story. Steve is persistent and ends up with Linda and we follow their ups and downs.

Does it Work?
Sort of. I did find myself wincing about missed connection and everything, but when I checked the back of the box and saw that Cameron Crowe had also directed Say Anything, it hit me that I'd seen a lot of these devices before, especially the use of payphones and answering machines, and the amicable breakup that leads to an emotional breakdown by the male lead.
Regarding Cliff and Janet, that story uses way more film than is really necessary. Janet's whole thing about getting breast implants tapers off and leaves you wondering why that didn't just end up as a deleted scene, or in a director's cut. At the end of the movie, after Steve and Linda have been resolved, along with a few other loose ends, Cliff makes his move get Janet back. The results are disappointing, but not really surprising, although between that and the start of the credits there is a very original thing that ties the audience to the story, gives a more universal appeal.
Still, how I came about getting this movie kind of explains how I feel about it as well. I bought the soundtrack at a thrift store for $5. A few months later, I bought the movie at the same thrift store for $2. Sounds about right.

Recommended:
No

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