Cross My Heart Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Cross My Heart Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 6, 2022

Love is a complicated thing, with “Cross My Heart” an examination of the dating process between two people fighting to overcome their scorching insecurities. It’s a comedy from writers Gail Parent and Armyan Bernstein (who also directs), and one that hopes to inspect its characters a little more deeply, getting into the muck of adult gamesmanship as the participants try to present themselves in the most appealing light possible, only to have the truth slowly command the evening. It’s up to leads Martin Short and Annette O’Toole to carry the feature, and the pair share wonderful chemistry and timing in this slight but enjoyable two-hander that touches on the challenges of honesty and the thrill of attraction.

It's not just date night for David (Martin Short) and Kathy (Annette O’Toole), but the all-important third date night for the twosome, and the pressure is on. David is rattled after losing his job, fearful of explaining to Kathy what’s going on after telling her he’s in line for a promotion. And Kathy has a seven-year-old daughter, keeping this information from David until she gets comfortable with him. They embark on an evening together, but deceptions mount, with David using a car and apartment provided by his friend, Bruce (Paul Reiser), to impress Kathy, and when they return to this dwelling, an evening of sex is complicated by individual concerns as they get to know each other.

“Cross My Heart” is simple in design, spending some time with David and Kathy’s friend and sister (Joanna Kerns) as they receive emotional reinforcement that a third date is a welcome proposition. And then the evening commences, with the characters each managing lies they’ve accumulated, with David initially hoping to use the date to celebrate his corporate advancement, only to be fired from his position. Kathy is a secret smoker and has a child, struggling to sense if the time is right to share her life with David. “Cross My Heart” follows the pair as they visit a restaurant, experiencing a theft that sets the tone for the evening, and they return to Bruce’s bachelor pad apartment, which David hopes to pass off as his own.

Along the way, the characters talk to each other, trying to open up and see if chemistry is there, which gives the production room to dream up banter and play with the actors (Short gets a chance to show off his Montgomery Clift impression). Short and O’Toole are terrific here, capturing developing anxieties, and “Cross My Heart” eventually gets around to a bedroom adventure, which David is hoping for, while Kathy understands more clearly what sex will mean for the relationship. “Cross My Heart” is meant to entertain, but it makes some salient points on the deceptive ease of casual sex, and, for 1987, it’s nice to see a movie address the use of a condom before lovemaking begins.

Cross My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a very old scan of "Cross My Heart." Fine detail isn't available. Costuming is softer, along with interiors, and exteriors lack sharp dimension. Colors are aged, with slightly fatigued reds and blues. Skintones push red at times. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is processed, missing a film-like quality. Source is in good condition.

Cross My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix doesn't have much to manage with "Cross My Heart," which is basically just two people talking for 90 minutes. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, capturing clarity of performances and softer emotional declarations. Music supports comfortably, setting jazzier moods, and soundtrack selections retain their thin period beats. Atmospherics are basic, dealing with crowd bustle and street events.

Cross My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

Cross My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Cross My Heart" aims to hit a few farcical highs, which don't add to the viewing experience. More interesting is time spent with people wrestling with the idea of exposing their real selves to each other, so frightened by rejection, they fully invest in lying, complicating the ways of attraction. It's not always deep, but "Cross My Heart" is carried by moments of clarity and the skill of Short and O'Toole.