Sunburn (1979)

Why so much hype?

Redundant and unnecessary.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

While it's unlikely to make anyone forget Preston Sturges, SUNBURN is an amiable screwball comedy. Pairing the effervescent Farrah Fawcett with the angst-ridden Charles Grodin has a lot to do with that. They make a good pair. The plot involves insurance investigator Grodin looking into a suspicious death in Mexico (his company is expected to payout $5,000,000). He hires Fawcett to act as his wife and along with wily private eye Art Carney they uncover a plot involving murder, blackmail and more than a few unpleasant characters. Fawcett and Grodin are a fun couple and Carney steals his scenes. The cast is peppered with a lot of names including Eleanor Parker, Seymour Cassel, William Daniels, John Hillerman and Keenan Wynn, though they really have little to do. Joan Collins of all people is hilarious as a nymphomaniac who gives Grodin a real run for his money. SUNBURN is the epitome of fluff, directed with a surprisingly light touch by Richard C. Sarafian, who specialized in films involving a lot of brutality (VANISHING POINT, LOLLY MADONNA XXX).

After capturing the hearts and minds of most teen boys in America, Farrah Fawcett branched out into posters and films. Leaving behind "Charlie's Angels" and fame and fortune, Farrah embarked on her "S" trilogy. The middle installment in the trilogy was aptly titled "Sunburn"(the other two movies were called "Somebody Killed Her Husband" and "Saturn 3") and involved Miss Farrah's teaming with Charles Grodin and their ability to portray themselves as husband and wife. The reason for the elaborate ruse is to clean up a phony suicide claim. Insurance fraud has never seemed more exciting as it does here, where you can walk outside into the streets of Acapulco or slip into a million dollar chateau for a cocktail party. Speaking of posters this film has one of the best: Farrah in a one-piece that defies gravity, Grodin with a sidearm and Art Carney parachuting in on a pair of sunglasses with the ocean in the background. Oh, well, maybe you should purchase the poster instead. But if you don't wish to watch three straight Farrah Fawcett films on a summer' afternoon, pair this one up with the Mexican-set, Neo-Noir classic, "Against All Odds."

Charles Grodin plays a insurance investigator and Farrah Fawcett poses as his wife to solve murder. Art Carney is added for comedic relief to keep the movie rolling. Grodin is little serious as the usual roles that play in other movies. This is not Fawcett best role, but will show her acting ability in later movies as The Burning Bed and Extermities. Its not the best movie, but I like for the adventurous plot.

This is one of my all time favorites. For pure entertainment value. I usually go for much more thought provoking films, but this one was fun. I saw it originally on cable many years ago. I still hear the 10cc song "I don't want to lose you. Dadda dadda da dah" and think of putting lotion on Farrah's back side while she lies with that bed sheet seductively covering her!(Which was much more enticing than actually seeing a nude scene.) With the dry comedy of Grodin, and his way of making you believe it could be you and the always likeable Art Carney I just wish I could've been there in Mexico with them. I almost became a Insurance Investigator! I wish I could find this on video. Stranded on an island, this would be one of my 5 films to keep.