Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Watched this movie for the first time when it first came out on video. 35 years later, every time I hear a wind chime, especially on a hot, humid night, I get so turned on! If you've seen it, you'll understand.(A young Mickey Rourke, if you can picture it, was super sexy in his small role.)

This is one of those movies that fell though the cracks. I couldn't find it ever on a big screen, retrospectives you know. I refused to see it on TV for the first time. Sunday night, finally, I saw it in a huge plasma screen. Wow! I can immediately tell why people consider it a remake of Double Indemnity but unlike Gus Van Sant who remade Psycho shot by shot and casts Vince Vaugh as Norman Bates in a massive piece of miscalculation, or Jonathan Demme who remade Charade as The Trouble With Charlie and casts Mark Whalberg in the Cary Grant role, Mark Whalberg! In "Body Heat" Lawrence Kasdan casts William Hurt in the Fred Mac Murray part of the insurance salesman falling into the trap, body and soul. William Hurt's phenomenal performance reinventing the character makes "Body Heat" unique and without precedent. The power of Kathleen Turner - bursting into the film scene with a bang! - it's a masterpiece of characterization. She's way ahead of William Hurt. "You're not very intelligent, are you? I like that in a man" Superb.

"Ned Racine" (William Hurt) is a small-town lawyer in Florida who just happens to meet a beautiful, married woman named "Matty Walker" (Kathleen Turner) one night and immediately becomes sexually attracted to her. After spending some time with her she brings up the fact that her husband, "Edmund Walker" (Richard Crenna) has left a sizable sum for her in his will and suggests that if Ned kills him they can have each other along with the money. Soon both of them concoct an elaborate plan to murder Edmund but things don't quite turn out the way it was initially intended. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this turned out to be an excellent film-noir with solid acting by everyone involved. Of particular note was the steamy performance by Kathleen Turner who dominated every scene she was in. Additionally, the twist at the end was also quite remarkable as well. In any case, I highly recommend this movie for those who might be interested in a film of this type and I have rated it accordingly. Definitely above average.

The problem with this neo-noir is that, since it so exactly follows the femme fatale formula of classic film noir, you know exactly what's going to happen from beginning to end. How William Hurt's character can't is mind bending! You really want to just yell at the screen at him! Sheesh.Since the plot is a lost cause, what else to consider is the filmmaking. Lawrence Kasdan stymies himself by writing the aforementioned script as he did. So, his direction is only going to be able to do so much, and it isn't enough. John Barry's film score is the clear highlight! It is excellent and atmospheric. But, everything else is very routine.***** (5 Out of 10 Stars)