New York Times
"...[The style] is powerfully seductive, and part of the gamesmanship of INDECENT PROPOSAL is built into its glossy directorial tricks..." 04/07/1993 p.C13Variety
"...A provocative premise, megawatt star power and high-gloss production values....[Moore's performance] is lively, heartfelt and believable..." 04/12/1993 Entertainment Weekly
"...Swank....INDECENT PROPOSAL creates a chic tableau of naughtiness..." 04/16/1993 p.34-6 Chicago Sun-Times
"...Redford is, first of all, a splendid salesman....INDECENT PROPOSAL is in a very old tradition, in which love is put to the test of need and desire and triumphs in the end..." 04/07/1993 p.43 DVD Verdict 7 of 10
Does this movie fall into the category of "chick-flick" or is it actually a guy's film? You see, at its heart, Indecent Proposal is a love story, which thus would appeal to the female population. I guess we can't forget that the delicious Mr. Redford also appears in the film, which also tilts the film toward the fairer sex. On the other hand, you do get to see Demi's breasts and many nice, long pan shots of her very fine form. In addition, the whole idea of a man "buying" a night with a hottie like Demi, and you would think this is a movie for guys...So, which is it? Is a chick-flick or a guy's flick? While Demi is definitely in fine form, which makes the movie watchable for a little while, this movie will certainly be enjoyed by women far more than men--who probably only ever saw it on a date with their then girlfriends...Overall, this is a marginal film that is intent on pounding home the message that these two people love each other, and that this love will help them overcome all obstacles in life. Aside from that continual pounding, my other problem with the movie is how much David freaked out after Diana spent the night with John...At the time, I recall there was a "great debate" about the movie and the indecent proposal therein. Here's my two-cents on this: (1) IF put into the position, I would thoroughly talk over the issue with my significant other; (2) We would both agree on what to do; (3) If "we" agreed to do it, then we would live with it, and I would hope that I wouldn't flip out like David did. A million dollars, for people in that position, would be a very great thing. Of course, I agree with Oliver Platt, I would have tried for two million if I had a woman like Demi...While everyone does the best they can with the material presented, this movie is nonetheless ridden with many of the standard love story cliches. There is potential in the general story idea, as evidenced by the 1992 Honeymoon in Vegas, but it doesn't manifest itself in this film. - Eric Profancik
ReelViews 6 of 10
Director Adrian Lyne, best known for bringing Fatal Attraction to the screen, is at the helm for Indecent Proposal. One of the key elements of the 1987 Glenn Close/Michael Douglas thriller -- obsession -- is also present here, albeit without the tension and violence that gave Fatal Attraction its spark. Here, a similar situation is examined from another perspective. Gage goes after Diana not with knives and threats, but with kind words, generous gifts, and moving tales of his youth...The story is divided into three parts: the setup, the "act", and the aftermath. Despite a somewhat confused sense of time early in the film, aspects of the first part work. We get a real sense of character, and the relationship between Diana and David comes across as genuine. Once the setup is over, however, Indecent Proposal starts to fall apart, with the implausibilities and contrivances getting worse with every passing minute...From the voice-over narration to the incessant, unnecessary commentary, everything is overexplained. Any time there could be a misinterpretation, someone will say something to clarify matters. For a movie that is supposed to be a "thinking romance", this one doesn't have a high opinion of who's supposed to be doing the thinking...Demi Moore has a certain appeal as the beautiful woman caught between two men, and Robert Redford, no longer the sex symbol he once was, is effective the jaded, lonely billionaire striving for love -- the one thing that has eluded him for his entire life...The need to mold Indecent Proposal into a recognizable Hollywood "type" hurts its chances of saying, or being, anything meaningful. There are undercurrents of an intriguing story in Indecent Proposal, but they never reach the surface. Director Adrian Lyne may not be remaking Fatal Attraction, but the same audience-pleasing mentality is evident in this stagnant motion picture. - James Berardinelli
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