Rating: 
Summary: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Hot Thing
Review: "3 Men & A Baby" for the Doom Generation. I never thought I would use the word "cute" to describe a movie by Gen X gloomy gus director Gregg Araki, but "Splendor" is kinda, well..."cute". Araki films his "bizzarre love triangle" in a vivid neon chroma-key with cartoonish pacing to create a sort of "She's Gotta Have It" via Pedro Amoldovar. In typical Araki fashion, the leads are played by impossibly attractive people who look like they just fell out of a sexually ambiguous Calvin Klein ad. If you accept the story as a likable fairytale with a well chosen 80's soundtrack and some memorable scenes, it holds a certain romantic charm, but ultimately this is a lightweight, somewhat contrived entry in the "modern love" sweepstakes.
Rating: 
Summary: Cute, enjoyable romantic tale.
Review: 'Splendor' is a wonderful film by indie director Gregg Araki, who with such films as Nowhere, The Doom Generation, and Totally f***ed up, has been dubbed "The God of Alternative Gay Teen Cinema." The film opens on Halloween night at a costume party, where out heroine, Veronica, an aspiring actress (is there any other kind?) meets her Prince Charming (literally), Abel, a freelance rock critic, after he accidentally runs into her. As their eyes meet, the two realize that they are destined for each other. As Veronica begins to walk away, due to protests from her lesbian best friend Mikey, Abel asks for her number and she gives it to him. Less than five minutes later, Veronica sees the gorgeous drummer of the band playing at the party, and they immediately have sex, without even an introduction.
It isn't long before Veronica is steadily dating the two men, with their permission of course. The two men know that they are sharing the same woman, but they have never met each other. When Veronica invites Abel to one of Zed's concerts, the two men run into each other and complications arise.
This film deals with a daring topic and I wish that more theaters had shown it during its theatrical run. Surprisingly, the film isn't very explicit, but I think that Araki wanted to focus more on the romantic, emotional side of a threeway relationship rather than the sexual aspects, which the film does quite well. This movie was very enjoyable and somewhat different from the corny romantic comedies out there, although the end did manage to take that route. The script was fresh and funny, and the performances were great. I love Kathleen Robertson and its been good seeing her in such daring roles lately. Johnathon Schaech was terrific as always, and Matthew Kessler, who plays Zed, is one of the sexiest actors I have ever seen. This is one I can watch over and over and I am eagerly anticipating whatever will come next from this great director. Highly recommended for those who want to see a slightly different romantic comedy.
Rating: 
Summary: Three's Company, for the Millennium!
Review: 'Splendor', from writer/director Gregg Araki, is a bright, witty comedy of relationships, told from a woman's perspective. The film's opening shot sets the tone for the entire film; a beautiful girl lies between two handsome men, a look of pure bliss on her face, and sleepy satisfaction on theirs! Unusual for a mainstream American film, but this is NOT your usual 'Boy Meets Girl' movie! Young Veronica, portrayed by the astonishingly lovely Kathleen Robertson, comes to Hollywood to pursue an acting career; one evening, attending a crowded costume party with lesbian friend, Mike (British actress Kelly McDonald), she sees hunky drummer Zed (played with goofy charm by Matt Keeslar), and immediately is aroused, much to Mike's chagrin! As she is pulled away, she literally runs into handsome, sensitive writer Abel (the always watchable Johnathon Schaech) and sparks fly again, despite Mike's funny insults! After passing him her phone number, she retreats to the bathroom...and runs into Zed! Passions explode immediately, and a tryst begins that ends in her apartment, the next day...when Abel phones her! Veronica bemoans the fact that it's always 'feast or famine', but likes both guys too much to date either of them, exclusively! Of course the two suitors eventually meet, and Veronica is so sweet and desirable that she manages to convince both of them that a loving relationship between the three is not only possible, but desirable! This would be the 'end' of many films, but director Araki uses the threesome as the framework for an entire movie, covering a wide assortment of funny situations! As the 'glue' that holds this unusual relationship together, Robertson's portrayal of Veronica is a marvel, funny and sexy, yet vulnerable! Can this trio of young lovers survive, especially with a young, wealthy TV director (Eric Mabius) waiting in the wings, to take Veronica away from all this? Buy 'Splendor', and find out! You WON'T be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Araki goes Hollywood
Review: And that's okay because he tells a sweet tale of two guys sharing a girl and very timidly learning to love one another. The Hollywood ending is a bit of a distraction. But this is a wonderful film, and quite instructive. Have all your straight male friends watch it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Flawless
Review: Another masterpiece from Greg Araki! If you like Nowhere or Doom Generation even a little bit, go out and get this one immediately! One of the funniest, most twisted, romantic movies ever made.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie ... but no "edge"
Review: Araki says he was inspired by the screwball comedies of the 30s and 40s in making Splendor, and it shows. Within the context of being a comedy, it's surprisingly frank about the sexual aspects of Robertson's 3-way relationship. I could have done without the pratfalls, and with a bit more character development for Zed and Abel (played by Johnathan Schaech, and sadly not by James Duvall as suggested by a previous reviewer). Spectacularly filmed and edited with all the Araki trademarks in place. It's just NOT as edgy and satisfying as "Nowhere" or "Doom Generation." I think Araki's mellowing out ... maybe he'll find a new, laidback voice.
Rating:
Summary: two guys and a girl (no pizza place.. )
Review: Can one woman really love two men?? will she be happy if she chooses only one of them? which one should she choose?? What happens when she gets preganant?? These are all questions that are answered in Gregg Araki's first mainstream film.. Kathleen robertson plays a young woman looking for love (and boy does she find it).. On a night out with her bizzarre (lesbian?) friend, she meets a handsome inteligent man (Jonathon Schaech) and a SEXY drummer (Matt Keeslar). She gives her number to one and has sex with the other.. she then begins to date them both.. they find out and instead of making her choose, they move in with her.. but will it work out??? can the three of them really be happy??? It's threesome meets the odd couple.. a fantastic film that is very funny and touching.. a must see..
Rating:
Summary: Harmless, Day-glo Fun from a Usually Edgier Filmmaker
Review: First, let me correct some mistakes other reviewers of Splendor have made: 1.) This is NOT Gregg Araki's debut film (!)--he made quite a handful before this one; and 2.) James Duval is NOT in this movie. Kathleen Robertson was cast in the lead most likely because she's the director's girlfriend (or was at the time).
All that said, I think Splendor is pretty much what it sets out to be--an updated version of a "screwball 30's/40's romantic comedy." The main difference being that the two men who end up living with Veronica sleep with her, and each other, it is implied, at the same time. But for anyone who's seen Araki's earlier films, don't expect the same level of sex and nudity (or violence) in Splendor as was seen in The Doom Generation (a really wretched movie), The Living End, Totally ... Up, or Nowhere. The two lead guys share a kiss, there's a brief shot of a blanket-covered man's aroused privates, and there's the scene of Veronica and Zed having sex in a public restroom (shown from the shoulders up), but nothing in-your-face as was in his other films. This movie wants to play it light and silly and does so with some finesse (look for a cameo by Adam Corolla playing a junkyard honcho), although it sort of becomes tedious and predictable by the end (and stultifyingly closes on the over-obvious New Order song, "Bizarre Love Triangle"), yet some fans may want to watch the credits for a tacked on scene that appears halfway through them. Part of what I always thought made Araki's films fun was that they largely managed to be interesting and provocative in spite of the director's evident lack of smarts, his kitsch pop-alterna-culture fixation notwithstanding. Splendor, while worlds better than The Doom Generation (which turbocharged all his fixations beyond interest or interesting commentary), is maybe too slick--it's like a sugary lolipop that's fun while it lasts but doesn't linger in the memory much.
Rating:
Summary: A realistic look at what's going on in the 20+ generation
Review: For those of you 30 years or senior, this Movie does not speak to you. Combining both a unique story of 1 young woman in love with two men of the opposite personality extreme and today's harsh reality of Sex, Drugs, Music, and sucky Jobs. An open mind is a must, you can decide...
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable acting performances
Review: From start to finish, this is a highly enjoyable film. Not as disturbing as most Araki films, but that is good because this film will appeal to a wider range of audience. Araki could not have picked a better song to close the film on:"bizarre love triangle".
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