The Pad (and How to Use It) Reviews

There are a few funny moments in this farce, but mostly it's a cheap and insensitive film. It's based on a romantic one-act play by Peter Shaffer (author of "Equus" and "Amadeus") that explores the feelings of a shy and lonely man. In the hands of director Hutton, it turns into a freewheeling comedy with a title designed to hook the audiences of THE KNACK (AND HOW TO GET IT). Bedford plays a shy classical-music lover who meets Sommars at a Mozart concert when he accidentally spills some pop on her. He apologizes and invites her to dinner at his place. However, he panics before the date and goes to his swinging pal Farentino for advice. Farentino coaches Bedford in the ways of the ultrahip. When Sommars comes over, she's fascinated with Farentino and all but ignores Bedford, who gets drunk and then argues with his pal. Farentino splits and Bedford puts on "Madama Butterfly" in order to make the mood more romantic. He makes an awkward pass at Sommars but she declines and leaves with Farentino's phone number. Bedford is doomed to remain eternally lonely. The setting for the story was changed from London to LA, though Bedford (who originated the role on stage) kept his British accent. Location work was done at the famed Whiskey-A-Go-Go, where a number of famed rock groups got their start. As comedy, the film is passable, and the actors aren't bad. However, the farcical treatment just doesn't seem right, and Bedford's unhappy ending is out of place.