Denial (1998 film)


Denial is a 1998 American drama film written and directed by Adam Rifkin. It was first screened at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 21, 1998, and was released to video one year later under the title Something About Sex. The plot revolved around couples as they struggle with the hardships of maintaining a monogamous relationship. It starred Jonathan Silverman, Leah Lail, Patrick Dempsey, Christine Taylor, Ryan Alosio, Amy Yasbeck, and Jason Alexander. It was produced by Brad Wyman.

Plot

Couples Joel and Sophie, Sam and Sammie and Isaac and Claudia are dining with writer Art Witz. The latter talks about his new book, in which he argues that monogamy is a lie and that people are by nature alienated. The three couples react furiously and insulted by Art's views, end the dinner. The next day, Isaac buys a wedding present for his wife Claudia in an antique shop and has sex with the salesgirl. Claudia searches for Art and ends up in bed with him, admitting that she and Isaac have been polygamous for a long time, but hides it from their friends. Jewish lawyer Joel misses an erotic massage in an illegal massage studio and suffers from his guilty conscience. He is plagued by nightmares and decides to tell his wife Sophie the truth, although his brother Reuben, a geeky ne'er-do-well with a penchant for obese women, advises against it. Medical student Sophie meets secretly with her medical professor dr. Lionel Taft and sleeps with him, but then realizes that she loves her husband. Joel confesses the event to Sophie, while she keeps her affair secret. Sam, a chef working for a tony catering company, is about to marry his pregnant fiancé Sammie. He's a fan of pornography, which he keeps secret from his fiancée. When she discovers that, she fears that he can cheat her as well and hires a private investigator, who in turn decides to use a woman as bait for Sam. He, however, resists the woman's charm, which Sammie registers with great relief. The film ends with a scene depicting Sam and Sammie's wedding, which their friends attend as guests.

Cast

The film was filmed on Los Angeles, California.

Reception

Ken Eisner of Variety considered parts of the film to be "adult tube fare," "obvious" and "forced," but praised Adam Rifkin's direction, stating that " adds enough edge and originality to make it a potential click with theater auds. Marketeers will have to win femmes over to pic's slightly male-skewed view." He also praised the film's music score.