Eating Raoul ( 1982 ) Netflix Review

Starring:  Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, Robert Beltran, & Susan Saiger

Directed By Paul Bartel

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083869/


     Lately I have found myself watching older movies.  Maybe it's because everything nowadays seems too contrived, or has already been done.  Being a reviewer for only 2 years has taught me a lot.  One thing in particular, is the ability to give almost ANY movie a chance.  I personally feel that unless you give something a chance, then who the fuck are you to bag on it?  Twilight, The Social Network, and other countless movies today have really left me no choice but to retreat into some older, lesser known movies, and this very movie is a prime example of a good find.

     I was totally shocked that eating Raoul hasn't been talked about more than it is.  Just by reading the Netflix description got me interested.  I also noticed that it didn't get a lot of stars or thumbs up, but something about the title and brief description tugged at attention.  I was disappointed.  Watching Eating Raoul made me laugh, and shake my head at the rating all at the same time.  I understand now that even as early as 82, almost ANYTHING sexual would get you and R rating, and Eating Raoul is another example of a bad rating for a good film.

     As if if living in Hollywood wasn't enough, imagine trying to save money to live out your dreams, while a swarm of Swingers try to constantly seduce you and your loved one.  Paul Bartel wrote/directed/starred in this little indie classic.  Paul and Mary bland dream of the day when they can own/run a restaurant far away from the scum of Hollywood.  Paul can't seem to keep a job, but has an impressive collection of rare wines to keep him happy, and his loving wife Mary is a nutritionist at a local hospital.

     Finally, the day comes when an Realtor has such a place for the Blands to acquire, but it doesn't come cheap.  $20,000 will get it for them.  Paul and Mary then try almost every idea imaginable, and often met with scumbags who want sex for favors.  As if this wasn't enough stress, their apartment complex seems to be over run with sex crazed swingers who seem to just walk into the Blands home whenever.  After one such swinger dies, the two take his money, then dispose of the body.  Getting an Idea, the Blands decide to run an ad in the local underground rag advertising whatever sexual fantasy you can think of.  Once the clients show up, Mary seduces them until Paul can hit them over the head, killing them, and then take the cash.

     All goes good until the Blands decide to take advantage of a locksmith named Raoul and his locks.  Unbeknownst to the Blands is the truth about Raoul.  He's a semi-professional thief.  One night after the Blands take down a few clients, Raoul breaks in, gets caught, and the 3 decide to work out a deal that will ultimately leave everybody with A LOT of money.  As is with everything, snags to come up and that's only the beginning.  From that point on it's a constant whirl of sexual perverts getting offed for cash at a rapid rate.

     I really liked this movie for a number of reasons.  Really funny, and easy to watch with almost anybody.  I especially thought it was funny that whenever somebody died there was absolutely no blood anywhere.  Not on the frying pan, knife, or anything else the couple and Raoul seemed to use.  The only reason this movie got an R rating was because of the sexuality, but even that didn't warrant the rating it got.  The second thing I really enjoyed was the pace of the film.  At times it kind drawn on especially when Raoul was trying to seduce Mary, but it quickly bounced back.

     For all of the eye rolling moments and laughs, Eating Raoul was a very pleasant movie to watch and should be viewed.

-Mr. What?- ( * * * )