Love Potion #9 (1992)

27% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(33,626 ratings)

When it comes to love, Paul Matthews and Diane Farrow, two highly educated and talented scientists don't know a thing. Looking at their geeky demeanor's it's easy to see why. Despite the fact that both are neighbors, share the same interests and both are psychobiologists who study primates, neither… More When it comes to love, Paul Matthews and Diane Farrow, two highly educated and talented scientists don't know a thing. Looking at their geeky demeanor's it's easy to see why. Despite the fact that both are neighbors, share the same interests and both are psychobiologists who study primates, neither is really aware of the other romantically until Paul, who is terribly shy around women, goes to gypsy Madame Ruth in desperation and asks for help. She reads his palm and tells him that he needs a woman; she then hands him Love Potion No. 8 which will attract women like flies to honey. This romantic comedy chronicles what happens to him (and Diane) when, after experimenting on animals, they decide to try it on themselves. Though the changes only last four hours per dose, they are truly remarkable and the two agree to separate for three weeks and then come back together to compare results. The time passes quickly and wonderfully for them and when they finally reunite both have changed for the better. Just for fun, they decide to go out with each other. They do not drink the potion, but still have a wonderful and passionate night. This leads Paul to propose to Diane. Unfortunately, she thinks she loves another, a man who is really more interested in exploiting the potion for money than he is in her. He ends up buying up all of Madame Ruth's latest batch. Paul goes back to her and explains his problem and that is when Ruth hands him the potent Love Potion No. 9, which can manifest true love. Quickly, he takes it and sets off to find Diane before she makes a terrible mistake. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Dale Launer
Written By: Dale Launer
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 13, 1992 Wide
On DVD: May 1, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Sandra Bullock, before becoming a star, is stuck in a romantic comedy that tries too hard to be cute, but the humor is glib and the direction pedestrian.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
it's a flat and bland little brew
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
try to derive comedy from a prostitute who drinks a giant draught of the potion and finds hundreds of men chasing her down a street, presumably to gang rape her to death.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Gypsy love potion transforms lonely, awkward and shy science geeks into not-quite-so-geeky in this formulaic though cute romcom from the 90's that was Sandra Bullock's first starring role and set the pattern in her career of playing wallflowers who suddenly bloom.
Jason S

This was a funny comedy. The situation was a little silly and you could tell were it was heading in the end but it was fun.
Dannielle A

Interesting humorous movie
Deb S

The story of two lab-rats Diane and Paul (Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan respectively) who get a love-potion from an old gypsy (Anne Bancroft) that makes it impossible for the opposite sex to resist them. She and Paul do what any geeky scientists would do, they treat the whole thing… More
The story of two lab-rats Diane and Paul (Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan respectively) who get a love-potion from an old gypsy (Anne Bancroft) that makes it impossible for the opposite sex to resist them. She and Paul do what any geeky scientists would do, they treat the whole thing as a big experiment, and "evaluating the results" has some interesting and funny consequences.
t h o m !

another movie I vaugely remember. I just remember it's one of the many terrible movies to come out of the 90's, but at least it has a geek in it who can't get girls, so I can definitely relate to it. =P
Chad R

Sandra Bullock's first movie - ok back in the 80's

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Tate Donovan as Paul Matthews

            Sandra Bullock as Diane Farrow

            Dale Midkiff as Gary Logan

            Mary Mara as Marisa

            Adrian Paul as Enrico Pazzoli

            Dylan Baker as Prince Geoffrey

            Hillary Bailey Smith as Sally

            Blake Clark as Motorcycle Cop

            Anne Bancroft as Madame Ruth

            David Baer as Marisa's Driver

            Jordan Baker as Joanne

            Virgil Beckham as Riot Cop

            Ann Taylor Boutwell as Church Lady

            Steven Burnett as Ron

            Rob Cleveland as Station Cop

            Lisa Coles as Blonde at Bar

            Susan Fassig as Cheryl's Friend

            Chelsea Field
            
            Kathryn Firago as Woman in Bridesroom

            Marc Gowan as Priest

            Jennifer Hale as Catty Woman

            Scott Higgs as Male Secretary

            Esther Huston as Mary

            Edith Ivey as Church Lady

            Timothy Martin as Man at Bar

            Bruce McCarty as Jeff

            Andra Millian as Matron

            Ric Reitz as Dave

            Rebecca Staab as Cheryl

            Ken Strong as Dick Webster

            Victoria Tabaka as Catty Woman

            Gary  Watkins as Secret Service Agent

            Libby Whittemore as R.T. Moreno

            David Dwyer as Riot Cop

            James Sbardellati as Dino

            Frank Welker as Special vocal effects

            Wendy Kurtzman
            
See full cast