MovieChat Forums > The Last Seduction (1994) Discussion > Does every male in this movie have an IQ...

Does every male in this movie have an IQ below 50?

posted 19 years ago by ZweiBlumen
62 replies | jump to latest

Because that's the way it seemed to me, having just seen this. Not since watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" have the limits of credibility been stretched to such an extent, and at least that one was a comedy.

Basically, the lead (Fiorentino) is some kind of genius-level criminal mastermind, while every male character she interacts with is a complete and utter moron. Starting from her own husband (convinced by her to go into the drug business, she ruins his career and finances, and at the end he actually wants to get back with her?) Then there's the black detective, who risks his job and his pay doing something incredibly stupid and inappropriate, why? Because she taunted him into it? These are supposed to be mature, free-thinking adults? Give me a break. The other 'detective' hired to watch her from the street isn't much better; his intelligence level and overall demeanor would be a much better fit on a gentle ruminant than a human being.

But the crowning glory of oblivious, slack-jawed boobery has to be that mouth-breathing country boy she calls a boyfriend. He is so pathetically naive and needy that he follows her around like a lost puppy, who will keep trotting alongside you whining plainitively even after you've kicked it. He has no backbone, no self-control and no ability to think about his situation or the long-term consequences of his actions. He is so terminally stupid that I'm surprised he didn't die halfway through the movie from forgetting to breathe.

I know that this is how the characters were designed, but come on, give me a break. There is only so much suspension of disbelief I can take, and Bridget Gregory's story about her antics together with the nearly unimaginable stupidity and gullibility of everyone around her not only crosses that line, it polevaults over it.

I am so tired of male characters in movies and TV shows being portrayed as nothing but gullible, needy, sex-starved idiots who'll do anything a woman asks, and all women being smart, sassy and able to manipulate men any way they want.

It's too bad, because otherwise I rather enjoyed the actors' performances.

[–] yatman56 16 years ago

Two points:
1.) Yes, men can be incredibly stupid when it comes to women.
2.) She was smart enough NOT to tangle with a man smarter than her. Want to appear smarter than you actually are? Then hang-out with idiots.

[–] temperamint-1 15 years ago

Just about EVERYBODY said the things I was thinking. And I agree with your last point. She had to hang around total idiots. She couldn't hang around a smart man. But then two other things came to mind. If she is that cunning, she could outsmart even a very smart person, and two, I still don't get why Mike had to act like such a pu...I mean sissy. HE GOT ON MY LAST NERVE! I would have ran away from her from the first night. I would not have hung around her. She totally crapped on him and he still followed her around like a wimp.

It is a bit unrealistic. No one could be that dumb, or needy. The other most disturbing part was when she revealed that he had married a man. Did he not know? Did he not realise?

[–] bron-tay 14 years ago

1) Yes, men can be incredibly stupid when it comes to women. -- REPEATED FOR TRUTH

2) The only unreasonably stupid thing that happened was when the enforcer dropped trou in the car.

Otherwise, I'd say the stupidity quotient was quite reasonable in this film, as was the wild anger the guy felt over having been Crying Gamed. Guys hit on women mercilessly all the time, but when they themselves are subjected to unwanted sexual attention, it's time to commit murder.

~~~~~~~
Think cynical thoughts.

[–] lornamd-1 14 years ago

I agree with p d. There have been many examples over the years of intelligent people acting like fools out of love or love. Marc Anthony over Cleopatra and the Profumo scandal (in fact pretty much every sex scandal involving politicians) being a few examples. It is completely believable that a competent claims adjuster would be a fool for a woman.

Hollywood and the media are not "blatantly anti-white male". Hollywood and the media are run by white men and heros in films are usually straight, white men. And yes there have been dumb black men in film: Chris Rock in Nurse Betty, Norbit and the psycho in Menace 2 Society being a few examples.

Also Mike most likely did tell his lawyer about Trish but what would that prove? Even if Trish could identify Bridget and the courts believed that she wasn't just covering for Mike that in no way proves that Mike didn't murder Clay.

I also thought that it was unbelievable that Clay would take Bridget back at the end but according to the writers and Bill Pullman the husband knew she was going to kill him so accepted his death.

[–] Robo183 14 years ago

Yes, the men in this movie are unbelievably dumb, but she obviously goes around looking for dumb men. However, when your lover starts to talk about seriously killing someone, the relationship would normally end there, dumb man or not. I liked it, but this movie should be in the comedy section.

[–] geoffrey-jackson 12 years ago

This is an amusing thread.

Not every man in the movie had an IQ below 50. Her lawyer did a bit of thinking for her. Her husband deserves a bit of credit too for working out her false name.

She did fine job in flaunting her assets to turn a guy's mind into mush. She was sharp and quick to cut a deal for her selfish self. Guys would either be lured in or, more likely, intimidated. The writer didn't want to waste time with intimidated characters.

Putting sexuality aside, there were good-natured guys like her new boss that she took advantage of. Less well-natured guys like the bartender gave her the disrespect she deserved.

Intelligence has little to do with being duped by people who can't be trusted.

I liked the movie. It is primarily a crime drama but it is also a comedy in a sinister sort of way. The viewer could see the various naive characters being manipulated so skilfully by the malevolent woman. There were also some funny lines and over the top scenes.

7/10 Good

[–] Diss_Oriented 12 years ago

I give this movie 10/10 because it's awesomely unpredictable, extremely cleverly written, amazingly well-paced, and laugh-out-loud funny. However I give Linda Fiorentino's "assets" 1/10. Seems like the only thing her chest is good for is hanging your jacket on 'em.

[–] dangermous 12 years ago

this film was more about style and letting your imagination run a little. kind of similar to the old noir films. if you have an active imagination you wouldn't let the little details spoil the film. I would say this was a classic. 8.5 / 10

[–] alioth4 10 years ago

I don't think it's that all the men are dumb--but that she knows how to spot the dumb ones. As a sociopath, she's learned since childhood (when that condition emerges) how to read and play people, as well as which types of people she can play.

So, all the men in her story would be the types that she can easily play and con. She wouldn't bother with anyone savvy enough to figure out what she is before she's done with them--I imagine she'd steer well clear of them actually.

One thing about a smart sociopath though--they really can fool most of the people most of the time. They tend to have a lot of charm, charisma, or be able to play victims and gain sympathy and unusual dispensation from strangers (as she played the "spouse abuse" card to the hilt). And even smart people can have certain "buttons" that sociopaths can see and push--various insecurities, emotional soft spots, etc. We saw Bridget push "manhood" buttons a few times as well, when she sensed a possible insecurity behind those.

Also, most people don't suspect the random person they encounter to be so cold-blooded evil--since the vast majority of people aren't sociopaths but have some sort of conscience inhibiting the most evil impulses.

"No more half-measures."

[–] mgtbltp 10 years ago

Because that's the way it seemed to me, having just seen this. Not since watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" have the limits of credibility been stretched to such an extent, and at least that one was a comedy.

Basically, the lead (Fiorentino) is some kind of genius-level criminal mastermind, while every male character she interacts with is a complete and utter moron. Starting from her own husband (convinced by her to go into the drug business, she ruins his career and finances, and at the end he actually wants to get back with her?) Then there's the black detective, who risks his job and his pay doing something incredibly stupid and inappropriate, why? Because she taunted him into it? These are supposed to be mature, free-thinking adults? Give me a break. The other 'detective' hired to watch her from the street isn't much better; his intelligence level and overall demeanor would be a much better fit on a gentle ruminant than a human being.

But the crowning glory of oblivious, slack-jawed boobery has to be that mouth-breathing country boy she calls a boyfriend. He is so pathetically naive and needy that he follows her around like a lost puppy, who will keep trotting alongside you whining plainitively even after you've kicked it. He has no backbone, no self-control and no ability to think about his situation or the long-term consequences of his actions. He is so terminally stupid that I'm surprised he didn't die halfway through the movie from forgetting to breathe.

I know that this is how the characters were designed, but come on, give me a break. There is only so much suspension of disbelief I can take, and Bridget Gregory's story about her antics together with the nearly unimaginable stupidity and gullibility of everyone around her not only crosses that line, it polevaults over it.

I am so tired of male characters in movies and TV shows being portrayed as nothing but gullible, needy, sex-starved idiots who'll do anything a woman asks, and all women being smart, sassy and able to manipulate men any way they want.

It's too bad, because otherwise I rather enjoyed the actors' performances.

sounds like you've never met your femme fatale.

[–] Robbmonster 9 years ago

I know this post of yours is a decade old now, but just wanted to say that when I saw...

Not since watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" have the limits of credibility been stretched to such an extent

... you made a friend for life in me!

I remember watching FBDO many years ago, and my overriding reaction from start to finish was a flabbergasted 'Oh, come ON!'.

Destroyed your father's beloved Ferrari, just advice from the Ferris Bueller School of Problem Solving and 'just stand up to him'.

Anyway, haven't seen The Last Seduction, but I should.

Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
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