The one good thing you can say about this film is that it has a good heart. It's honest and well intentioned. It was groundbreaking in 1981 in that it was released from a major movie studio, 20th Century Fox, and portrayed gay characters and homosexuality in a positive light, something that had not been done up to that point. I don't believe it did very well at the box office then, and off the top of my head I can't recall if another major movie studio backed another film with a gay central character in a positive light.
Michael Ontkean gives a sincere and effective performance as a young doctor coming to terms with his conflicting reality. He loves his wife deeply but is no longer able to deny that he is gay. He is believable and sympathetic even as he navigates his way through what is unfortunately a horrible script. Harry Hamlin and Kate Jackson meet with considerably less success. Hamlin seemed to be calculating every dramatic point with a wink to the 1980's audience that telegraphed, "I don't really like playing this part but I need some career visibility". There was a lot of speculation at the time about how doing these roles might affect the leading men's careers. I took this as hedging, by Hamlin, against jeopardizing future roles because playing gay was not the crown jewel then that it is today. So it was a little frustrating to see Michael Ontkean giving his heart and soul to his character when his co-star was essentially a piece of wood. I think Ontkean's career did suffer from doing this role. He is an excellent actor and it's a shame we didn't see his career launched from this role. Instead it was sort of stunted.
The script is very bad and some of the dialog is wince worthy. The score was lifted straight from an elevator. It really is sappy. But somehow, because of it's genuinely good heart, and a fine performance from Michael Ontkean, by the close of the movie your eyes are misty. As the movie ends there is a tinge of sadness, but also a sense that all is OK. Roberta Flak singing "Making Love" over the credits is the perfect final touch. In spite it's many flaws "Making Love" is worth seeing. I can revisit this movie and not be at all sorry because the story (not the script), and Michael Ontkean, pull me through with their honesty and sincerity.
Michael Ontkean gives a sincere and effective performance as a young doctor coming to terms with his conflicting reality. He loves his wife deeply but is no longer able to deny that he is gay. He is believable and sympathetic even as he navigates his way through what is unfortunately a horrible script. Harry Hamlin and Kate Jackson meet with considerably less success. Hamlin seemed to be calculating every dramatic point with a wink to the 1980's audience that telegraphed, "I don't really like playing this part but I need some career visibility". There was a lot of speculation at the time about how doing these roles might affect the leading men's careers. I took this as hedging, by Hamlin, against jeopardizing future roles because playing gay was not the crown jewel then that it is today. So it was a little frustrating to see Michael Ontkean giving his heart and soul to his character when his co-star was essentially a piece of wood. I think Ontkean's career did suffer from doing this role. He is an excellent actor and it's a shame we didn't see his career launched from this role. Instead it was sort of stunted.
The script is very bad and some of the dialog is wince worthy. The score was lifted straight from an elevator. It really is sappy. But somehow, because of it's genuinely good heart, and a fine performance from Michael Ontkean, by the close of the movie your eyes are misty. As the movie ends there is a tinge of sadness, but also a sense that all is OK. Roberta Flak singing "Making Love" over the credits is the perfect final touch. In spite it's many flaws "Making Love" is worth seeing. I can revisit this movie and not be at all sorry because the story (not the script), and Michael Ontkean, pull me through with their honesty and sincerity.