A Pyromaniac's Love Story (1995)

Everyone's falling in love with the wrong person in this hilariously hot all-star romantic comedy -- A PYROMANIAC'S LOVE STORY! Heartthrob William Baldwin (SLIVER, THREE OF HEARTS, BACKDRAFT) stars as the outrageous Garet, who tries to win the love of his sweetheart (sexy Erika Eleniak -- UNDER SIEGE) with a blazing crime of passion ... but she's got the hots for Sergio (John Leguizamo -- CARLITO'S WAY), who's carrying a big torch for a hot-tempered waitress named Hattie (Sadie Frost -- BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA)! Mixed-up romantic signals and comic confusion abound until the smoke finally clears ... and everyone involved can realize their burning desires!

More Romance Than Comedy

The title is the funniest thing about "A Pyromaniac's Love Story", this so-called romantic comedy has a lot more romance than comedy. The movie starts out as another tale of unrequited love as Sergio (John Leguizamo) explains in voice-over that he has long been in love with Hattie (Sadie Frost), the waitress daughter of a diner owner who thinks of him as just a friend.

Although Sergio and Hattie are the movie's core romantic couple, there are two minor romances going on at the same time. The gimmick of "A Pyromaniac's Love Story" is a series of mix-ups involving all three couples. The confusion could be easily cleared up if the persons in each couple managed to communicate with each other but the only communication is between couples. This might be very funny if the script was well written and clever but instead it is one of those movie situations which is only credible if you believe that all the characters are morons. So you have a decent love story with good messages about communicating and taking risks to declare your love which gets buried under a lot of poorly written slop.

"A Pyromaniac's Love Story" tries to be offbeat and whimsical in the style of "Benny and Joon" and although the two scores are almost identical it is never able to achieve the same effect. In part this is because William Baldwin's over-the-top performance is painful in relation to how understated everything else is, and Sergio has more screen time with him than with Hattie. A poor choice because Sadie Frost is the strongest member of the cast and has good chemistry with Leguizamo.

If you are looking for a way to make this movie interesting, I suggest that you watch it along with "Bram Stoker's Dracula" which was made 2 years earlier. In that film Frost (who is British) gave a great over-the-top performance as Lucy, a flirty and glamorous London socialite. Yet she is absolutely authentic as an earthy American waitress in "A Pyromaniac's Love Story" (accent, mannerisms, look). You would never guess that it could be the same actress. Frost is one of those talents who you wish had been given more opportunities.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child. December 10, 2005

youll have to pay attention but its a good love story

its a bit confusing at times with all the various confessions and figuring .other than that its pretty cool.lets see if i can keep this straight.theres this kid sergio whose in love with this chick.his boss wants him to burn the store for insurance money.then it goes up.a guy cons sergio into taking the blame.but to protect him,his boss says he did it.but his wife confesses to keep him clean.come to find out it was a pyromaniac who was trying to impress a crazy chick.this unravels a really strange love story.its a semi dark comedy id say.its good as far as offbeat romances go.the chicks in this movie are pretty.the pyromaniac has a definate sense of purpose,but hes very lost.im sure ive seen these people someplace but where? October 13, 2004

Arson, cake and bruises...love stories don't get any better.

What is true love? What is divine passion? Values will be readjusted by a cast of delightfully quirky characters in a rather odd love story.

Sergio, a baker's assistant played to perfection by John Leguizamo, works for Mr. Linzer (Armin Mueller-Stahl), who is entering hard times.

A fire set in the bakery has police suspecting Sergio the assistant, which upsets his love Hattie (Sadie Frost). Also a suspect is Mr. Linzer the bakery owner, until Mrs. Linzer rushes into the fray to claim responsibility so that she can be with her husband in jail. A stranger enters the fray, assaulting Sergio for diminishing the stranger's gesture of love...enter Erika Eleniak and William Baldwin as psychotic twenty-somethings who fit into this puzzle as an at-odds couple.

Sparks begin to fly in more than the bakery, however, when the younger couples get mixed up. A must see for any fan of the quirky, oddball or offbeat flick. September 12, 2002

best

ýt ýs the most beautýful movýe that ý've ever seen.ý loved ýt very much.because ý love william baldwin :))) and ý lýke to see the movýe agaýn November 22, 2001

a very offbeat comedy, but a favorite.

i really enjoyed this film ,because to me it was a breath of fresh air & it made me feel good. March 18, 2000

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