Compromising Positions

R

1985

1 hr. 38 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

List

56%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

The murder of a swinging Long Island dentist puts an ex-reporter housewife (Susan Sarandon) onto a story.

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jon c

based on the book by Susan Issacs comes a muder-mystery starring Susan Sarandon, Raul Julia, Joan Allen Detective David Suarez is assigned to the latest case of a New England town a renowned dentist gets murdered and his latest patient Judith Singer is highly suspicious of the whole thing being that she used to be a journalist she decides to dig deeper to find out why her womanizing dentist ended up dead there's more to it than just being a random killing as Judith gets closer to the truth realizing her dentist may not have been so perfect like the teeth he cleaned for a living some of the music in here is straight up goofy and this has the vibe of a Lifetime movie but Sarandon and Julia have such likable chemistry almost going romantic but never acting upon it since Judith has a husband that tries hard even if he's not attentive overall very lightweight whodunit about the middle-class neighborhood

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A housewife turned sleuth leads clueless police to the killer of a philandering dentist. This dark comedy about murder mysteries fails on all levels.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Inane, with a few comedic moments. Nothing special.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Not bad, but had the potential to be much funnier.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Nassau police rely on bored gossipy housewife to investigate a local murder. Sarandon's character is especially frustrating, I often felt as aggravated as her husband watching this film.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Great old fashioned style film, with a wonderful performance by Susan Sarandon. But it's Judith Ivey as her wisecracking friend that steals the film from everyone. Well written, interesting and has a great pace. A fun film, witty and pleasantly directed.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Frank Perry

Director

Susan Sarandon

Judith Singer

Raul Julia

David Suarez

Edward Herrmann

Bob Singer

Judith Ivey

Nancy Miller

Mary Beth Hurt

Peg Tuccio

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Variety Staff

Variety

A silly little whodunnit that's a mild embarrassment to all involved.

Oct 30, 2007

Full Review

Time Out

It's all very humorous and engaging, if only for proving that American whodunits don't have to have car chases and brutality; and it has a wicked eye for the vacuity of middle-class good life and what it may conceal.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Jun 23, 2004

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Kathi Maio

Sojourner

I only know that I found this lightweight mystery movie surprisingly thought-provoking.

Aug 21, 2019

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TV Guide

A lightweight but most enjoyable comedy-mystery.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 30, 2007

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Oct 21, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

The murder of a swinging Long Island dentist puts an ex-reporter housewife (Susan Sarandon) onto a story.

Director: Frank Perry
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English