The Man who Loved Women

Directed by Blake Edwards, The Man who Loved Women follows Burt Reynolds’ David Fowler as he embarks on a series of sexual encounters and relationship with various women (including Julie Andrews’ Marianna, Marilu Henner’s Agnes, and Kim Basinger’s Louise). Filmmaker Edwards, armed with a script written alongside Milton Wexler and Geoffrey Edwards, delivers a progressively underwhelming endeavor that fares best within its deliberate yet watchable opening stretch, as the movie boasts a charismatic turn by Reynolds that proves effective at immediately capturing the viewer’s interest and attention – with the assortment of familiar faces within the supporting cast only heightening the relatively promising atmosphere. There’s little doubt, then, that The Man who Loved Women slowly-but-surely begins its slide towards tedium as it progresses into a repetitive and uninvolving midsection, as Edwards offers up an episodic second act that boasts a handful of misguided comedic set-pieces (eg David’s encounter with a dog and Krazy Glue) and a far-from-enthralling emphasis on David’s erotic dalliances – which, when coupled with Edwards’ decision to continually stress silly psychobabble, ultimately confirms the picture’s place as a forgettable misfire.

** out of ****