FLATTERED

College guy Jack generally has poor luck with women. He conquered the drooling problem, but still considers himself a novice. Then coed Chelsea literally takes our hero's breath away (bladder control, too, if you must know). How can he hope to win this unattainably lovely girl, who already has an unseen but steady boyfriend? Desperate, Jack solicits advice from pals on campus and at work, precision-planning every move with Chelsea, with ironic results. John Hlavin's sparkling debut displays the wit of a Woody Allen comedy without the cynicism, a fine cast of fresh faces, and the distinction of filming entirely in Cleveland, mostly at University Circle and Case Western Reserve University, by local talent. Please don't mistake this for mere boosterism by the CIFF; we would heartily recommend FLATTERED whether it was made in Tehran, Baghdad, Pyongyang, or Tripoli. But not Baltimore.- Charles Cassady