Fresh
It has a brisk, well-turned-out quality that augurs well for Harris, the son of Richard Harris. Helping set and maintain the film's smart tone is Chaz Jankel and David Storrs' deft, trendy score.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
The Rachel Papers
She's curious, he's nervous
1989 · 1h 35m · R
Comedy, Romance
Directed by
Damian Harris
Overview
Poised to attend Oxford University, 19-year-old Charles Highway decides it's high time to have a romantic encounter with an older woman. With the help of a computer program and several eccentric relatives, Highway sets his sights on seducing Rachel Noyce, a stunning American in her 20s. However, Highway has his work cut out for him. Noyce has a boyfriend, DeForest, and is not exactly receptive to Highway's advances — at first, anyway.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
45%
Tomatometer
Rotten
Director Damian Harris isn't able to capture the book's special charms, and resorts to having his young hero address the camera to keep the viewer in the picture.
Variety Staff, Variety
Rotten
The result is without dramatic or moral weight, despite Highway's contrived comeuppance, and it's impossible to care about the characters.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh
Pryce gives one of the year's most refreshingly uninhibited performances as the boy's weird, postmodern hippie brother-in-law Norman. And Fletcher is a genuine star. His devilish precocity makes The Rachel Papers a bracing treat.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
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