Love Stinks (1999)

19% of critics liked it
(47 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(6,488 ratings)

What happens when you realize that your new girlfriend isn't going to be the love of your life -- but she doesn't happen to agree? Seth Winnick (French Stewart) is a television writer attending the wedding of his close friends Larry (Bill Bellamy) and Holly (Tyra Banks), where he meets a strikingly… More What happens when you realize that your new girlfriend isn't going to be the love of your life -- but she doesn't happen to agree? Seth Winnick (French Stewart) is a television writer attending the wedding of his close friends Larry (Bill Bellamy) and Holly (Tyra Banks), where he meets a strikingly beautiful woman named Chelsea (Bridgette Wilson). Seth falls in love with Chelsea, and she feels the same way. But before long, Chelsea wants a more permanent commitment; and the more Seth backs off, the more Chelsea makes clear that she's not giving him up. Before long Seth is desperate to get away -- and Chelsea is not about to let that happen. Love Stinks marked the first leading film role for comic actor French Stewart, best known for his work as Harry, the chronically puzzled alien on the television series Third Rock from the Sun. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Jeff Franklin
Written By: Jeff Franklin
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 10, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Feb 1, 2000
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Robert Horton, Film.com
Love Stinks offers up the very modest pleasures of a middling TV show, something you'd watch only if the cable went out on a Friday night.
Cate McQuaid, Boston Globe
Love Stinks is such a paean to television, it would have done better to go straight to video, where it belongs.
Michael Atkinson, Mr. Showbiz
A cut-rate romantic comedy of the kind that Adam Sandler would star in if his movies made no money.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
Sometimes it stinks with the sweat of failure. But sometimes it's as bitterly funny as its makers could hope.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Holy mother of the bride, what bile was Jeff Franklin drinking when he came up with this curdled revenge fantasy?
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Franklin relies too much on easy laugh-getters such as flatulence and crotch-kick gags, but at least he does provide his half-baked script with a fairly satisfying wrap-up.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
With 3rd Rock from the Sun's French Stewart in the lead, it's hard to not think 'sitcom' while watching this 'un-romantic comedy.'
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
They got one word in the title right.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
The film breaks every rule of the romantic comedy and does it with such glee that even when a gag is fully predictable it's still entertaining.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

This movie rocks. I love this movie. It has some of the funniest acting and scripting that I have seen in a while. I can't remember when I laughed so hard. This movie is sort of like "War of the Roses," except this is much more psychotic. I highly recommend this movie… More
This movie rocks. I love this movie. It has some of the funniest acting and scripting that I have seen in a while. I can't remember when I laughed so hard. This movie is sort of like "War of the Roses," except this is much more psychotic. I highly recommend this movie to those who like their comedies as black as they come. Plot: French Stewart, who is a TV writer, falls in love with a babe who MUST get married soon. She does everything to advance the relationship far beyond its years. Of course, French does not want this, and it leads to some very dark and funny circumstances. It uses sophisticated humor (i.e. how this affects his show and life overall) as well as completely low-brow humor (i.e. using farts as a weapon of revenge.) Script: This movie has some very funny lines. There are some lines that I almost choked on because I was not suspecting them. I am sure that the next time I see this movie I will pick up some very quotable quotes. Listen carefully to what they say, and you will be highly rewarded. Acting: This has some of the funniest and truest acting that I have ever seen. I actually liked Bill Bellamy in his role. Go see this movie when it comes out just for him. French is really decent, but you have to go with him because "Love will make you do f***ed up things. Everybody else works, especially the girlfriend. The ending just rocks, and it is very fitting. (Unfortunately I have been seeing the ending in the previews...it should be saved.) Everybody should go see this movie. It is very good, and I did not even notice the editing because I was laughing so hard. I took a point off simply because some of the scenes I had seen before
Leigh R

Funny!
Leo L

Hilarious!
Chosen 7

Very entertaining.