The End of Innocence

Written, directed by, and starring Dyan Cannon, this modern fable about co-dependency manages to override its logical flaws with pure charm. Opening with an extended montage, we follow little Stephanie's upbringing from the cutting of the umbilical cord through her loss of virginity on prom night. In quick flashes we see that Stephanie aims to please, whether it's her Jewish mother, her friends, or her first lover. In the second section, Stephanie (played by the late Rebecca Shaeffer) marries an older man, and spirals into both dependency and despondency. Finally, Cannon takes over the role of a much older, but not much wiser, Stephanie, who enters a relationship with a young writer (Stephen Meadows), that eventually drives her to a nervous breakdown. The remainder of the film is reminiscent of a woman's "Cuckoo Nest," as Stephanie is committed, works out her anger in a padded room and, with the aid of her therapist (John Heard) finally comes to terms with her inability to say "no." The group of crazies that comprise Stephanie's fellow Bedlamites are rather unbelievable, but they do add the required comic relief. While certainly not the most penetrating of psychological portraits, The End of Innocence will nevertheless strike a note of resonance among many female viewers, and most will find it entertaining. Recommended. (R. Pitman)