Making his feature directorial debut, Bud Cort (the anemic hero of HAROLD AND MAUDE) turns TED & VENUS into an unusual but ultimately wearisome excursion into the realm of romantic obsession. The year is 1974, and the setting that hippie paradise, Venice Beach, California. Ted (Cort) is a
modestly gifted, but tormented and, to say the least, eccentric poet. Ted leads the life of a drifter to the hilt until he sees a vision of loveliness in the person of a bikini-clad young woman (Kim Adams). Initially, Linda is fascinated by Ted, as he seems genuinely fond of her, and she's
flattered by the fact that an artist of such local renown would take a genuine liking to her. Ted, however, misinterprets Linda's purely friendly interest in him (she already has a muscle-bound boyfriend with whom she's satisfied) and his attempts to return what he assumes to be Linda's devotion
are quickly rebuffed. By now, Ted has developed an incurable obsession for Linda and nothing--not a restraining order from the court, nor eventual arrest and incarceration in a mental institution--can dissuade him from his determination to make Linda his forever.
The film's focus is often fuzzy, since it is almost impossible to determine whether Cort meant the film to be a black comedy or a poignant, albeit quirky, morality tale about life and what it could be if only people learned how to communicate their feelings for one another in more clear-cut
terms. Whatever Cort's intentions, TED & VENUS begins as a quirky but sweet little movie that turns sour and becomes a downright unpleasant experience long before the ultimately touching climax. To his credit, Cort keeps the story's action moving at a crisp pace and he succeeds in holding audience
interest, even as he does everything to turn them off. leave a comment
