Why Do Fools Fall in Love . Tucson Weekly . 08-31-98

Why Do Fools Fall in Love

DIRECTED BY: Gregory Nava

REVIEWED: 08-31-98

This bio-pic about Frankie Lymon, doo-wop heartthrob of 1950's pop group "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers," is so oddly intriguing that it overcomes many of its faults, including a penchant for melodrama and some goof-ball acting by Lela Rochon and Vivica Fox. The story of a teen idol's fall from fame and his marriages to three different women is framed by a courtroom sequence wherein the three wives fight over his estate. Told in flashbacks that start from the witness stand, Lymon's life is a compelling oddity, charting what happens to someone who must outlive his brief flirtation with celebrity. Larenz Tate's performance as Frankie has a get-under-your-skin quality that's perfect for both his overly-optimistic early years and nostalgic, junkie decline; and Paul Mazursky does his usual stand-up job as the paradigmatically sleazy record executive. Worth a look, though perhaps not the two hours that it asks for.

--DiGiovanna

Full Length Reviews
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Why Do Fools Fall in Love

Capsule Reviews
Why Do Fools Fall in Love

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