Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
I’m an unapologetic Cameron Crowe fan. I admire his writing; I’ve always enjoyed the wide-eyed optimism of Lloyd Dobler; and the “Tiny Dancer” scene from Almost Famous? It completely floors me. It’s a pitch-perfect encapsulation of the small, spontaneous moments that remind us of how wonderful life can truly be. Aloha? Yes, that’s also a movie. But today we’re diving into the extra large flannel laden era of the ’90s with Crowe’s terrific 1992 rom-com-dram Singles.
Now streaming on HBO GO, Singles centers on a group of twenty-something Gen-Xers who form a makeshift family while attempting to make sense of that impenetrable quagmire known as love in grunge-era Seattle. Starring Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, and Matt Dillon, the film not only captures the post-collegiate “now what?” ennui of your twenties, it’s also the perfect snapshot of the early ’90s.
For those of you not caught up on VH1’s I Love the ’90s, the difference between the early ’90s and the late ’90s is as stark as the contrast between Pearl Jam and Savage Garden. Two great bands, but the only concert they’re headlining together is a sold out show for one on my Spotify playlist. Singles features appearances from such ’90s relics as answering machines, video dating services, cassettes, car stereos, newsstands as big as libraries, fax machines, and a fashion sense so wonderfully archaic you’d think you’ve traveled all the way back to Brooklyn in December of 2016.
To those of you who’ve never experienced the joys of a Skip-It or know the Hey Dude theme song by heart (Yippy-kai-aie-what?), the most egregious nod to a bygone era is the fact that, now don’t freak out, Campbell Scott’s Steve calls Kyra Sedgwick’s Linda on a telephone to ask her out on a date.
I know! While I personally appreciate both the courage and novelty of the gambit, calling someone to ask them out in 2017 is legitimate grounds for a restraining order. The times, I half read in an internet article, they are a-changin’.
The fashion and technology may be different, but twenty-something malaise is timeless. Singles is lousy with well-written dialogue filled with the listlessness and optimism that pervades your twenties. “Time is running out to do something bizarre,” Bridget Fonda’s Janet Livermore states. “Somewhere around 25 bizarre becomes immature.” But while the sentiment of the film is universal, many of the scenes are indicative of the early ’90s. In one pivotal moment, Steve drunkenly calls Linda via bar payphone to express his undying love. This is (somewhat) normal in 1992, but if you’re declaring love via a payphone in 2017 you’re at the very least on a first name basis with rock bottom.
Don’t worry, Steve. Eventually Gmail will come into your life and assist you with all your lovelorn “Dammit, why did I send that?” needs.
“I fucking chickened out when I acted casual, like Mr. Casual. I should have said it. You… belong… with… me,” Steve emotes into a germ-infested payphone. “I think we made a big mistake because, we had good times, and we had bad times, but we had times. And I would like to start over. I would like to be new to you.”
It doesn’t matter if it’s 1952, 1992, or 2222, the practice of acting casual to protect both your heart and ego from romantic obliteration is a form of self-preservation that will always be relatable. It’s silly and juvenile, but sadly it’s what we do. Unfortunately, this heartfelt message never reaches its beloved because Linda’s answering machine cassette ruins the tape, which was a normal ’90s calamity. Early ’90s answering machine messages were the 2017 equivalent of sending a text message while only having one bar of service.
Thankfully, the searing flame between two indie protagonists cannot be extinguished by a faulty answering machine. Steve and Linda eventually reconcile and, depending on whom you believe, Crowe’s indie film possibly went on to influence the juggernaut known as NBC’s Friends. If you’re looking to take a trip back to the halcyon days of the early ’90s, you can’t do better than Singles.
