Unlike the film
guide CINEMATHERAPY, which is more a funny, tongue-in-cheek look at
films from a duo with a sense of humor, LATE NIGHTS ON VENUS by
Jean Warmbold is a very pedestrian look at films available for
viewing in theaters or on video that would appeal to "women." Like
the misplaced "television for women," this collection assumes that
all women like nice movies, romances and other appropriate
"female-attuned" entertainment, and that none of us would ever
stoop to watching Animal House or Caddyshack for a
couple of laughs. Since Caddyshack is in my top 10 of
all-time movie comedies, I would have to say that Warmbold is wrong
about women. But not always about the movies.

Broken into seven categories, like "Timeless Tales Well Told" and
"Comedy with a Heart," Warmbold's collection covers 550 films
altogether. No small feat. However, although I agree with the class
and tact with which she presents her findings, I feel like she is
not speaking for all women when she harkens our attention to losers
like Grumpy Old Men or Guarding Tess. I would
appreciate her accepting that women like action films, horror
films, thrillers, and sophomoric comedies as much as men do, and
that romance isn't the only thing on our minds when we're cruising
the aisles at the video store.

For a list of good films, there are better books, although Warmbold
lists some really fine ones here with succinct descriptions that
give you the most bare-bones facts about each movie. If you are a
girly-girl who doesn't like any of the additional genres I've
mentioned above, this book is for you. If you're a moviegoer with
different tastes for different times, LATE NIGHTS ON VENUS will not
be quite enough for you.