Andrew McCarthy, James Spader, Jami Gertz

A college freshman returns to L.A. for the holidays at his ex-girlfriend's request, but discovers that his former best friend has an out-of-control drug habit.

Flixster Users

68% liked it

8,439 ratings

Critics

54% liked it

24 critics

R, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Marek Kanievska

Release Date: November 6, 1987

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DVD Release Date: March 5, 2002

Stats: 739 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (739)


  • December 28, 2008
    Dated, but once you get past the 80's trappings and Andrew McCarthy as lead, still somewhat effective. Downey and Spader own this.
  • May 15, 2008
    Dreary, pointless late-'80s novel by literary poseur Bret Easton Ellis focused on listless, shiftless, drug-sniffing, sex-swapping, dead-end California teens with too much money and time on their hands. Which just about sums up this movie, though it's not nearly as interesting as...( read more) that. This is mostly due to the ridiculously cleaned-up script and lifeless direction, which whitewashes the baser depravity and replaces it with perversion-lite and fashion shows. It doesn't help that director Marek Kanievska is saddled with Brat Pack lesser (make that least) lights Andrew McCarthy and Jami Gertz. The only things that lift this film above the muck are the performances by James Spader as a particularly heinous drug dealer and Robert Downey Jr. as a rich-kid addict with no self-control, It's hard not to be fascinated by Robert Downey Jr's performance as Julian, as it so closely mirrors his own tabloid-ridden life. The depths of addiction are detailed without squeamishness. Director Hunter is a whiz at pacing and keeps the plot rolling while he further muddies the waters with his intriguing montages. You can't help but get sucked into the world of these characters, whose lives are orchestrated by Crispin Glover's Layne, who sounds like Perry Farrell and lives on a steady diet of speed and weed. Daniel Roebuck is wonderfully creepy as Samson, the slow-eyed and slow-witted killer.
  • March 25, 2008
    sure its not as good as the book but thats the norm, a nice turn by downey jr.
  • November 17, 2007
    Not a very good movie, but it's quite a showcase for Robert Downey, Jr.'s talent.
  • November 20, 2006
    Bret Easton Ellis should've sued. This movie is horrible.
  • September 13, 2009
    Not a patch on the book, but still watchable..
  • September 5, 2009
    Just finished reading the book. Did not know it was made into a film! Least of all with Robert Downey Jr and James Spader!! Not just want to see, MUST SEE.

    Although it has to be said that the trailer looks far from how I imagined it in my head...
  • August 15, 2009
    very uneven movie, the script is lame sometimes and the acting worse.
  • July 12, 2009
    I think it's pretty boring for the most part.
  • July 10, 2009
    He gave an epic performance of an addicted drug user

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • MorpheusOne
    September 19, 2007
    A brilliantly acted, directed, & scripted film, to say the least! And although Downey may have not been acting so much as playing himself, he gave soo much of himself to play this role that one can not question his abilities as an actor. And if you do then you are a fool!

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Less Than Zero Trivia


  • name the 1987 movie based on the audio clip song   Answer »
  • Who portrayed the drug dealer in the movie 'Less Than Zero'?  Answer »
  • Who wrote the books which the following movies were based on: - Less Than Zero - The Rules Of Attraction - American Psycho  Answer »
  • In the 80's James Spader and Andrew McCarthy appeared in three films together. What were they?  Answer »

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