Just perfect...

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Writer Zach Huttons (John Ritter)life is falling apart. He has writers block, can't stop drinking, can't stop womanizing, his agent is dying AND his wife Alex (Alyson Reed) understandably wants to divorce him. We then get a series of supposedly "comic" struggles involving his womanizing and drinking.Director Blake Edwards made some of the best comedies and dramas ever early in his career ("The Pink Panther" and "Days of Wine and Roses" come to mind) and even a few in the 1980s ("Victor Victoria"). But he then made a whole bunch of disastrous comedies in the late 1980s and into the 1990s. This is one of them. It's not the worst ("A Fine Mess" and "Switch" are much worse) but it's definitely not good. The jokes are either unfunny or pretty sick (one cruel joke involving a dog almost had me turn this off). The cast does their best (Ritter is especially good) but it's a no go. The one funny scene involves glow in the dark condoms. When THAT'S the funniest scene you know you're in trouble. Unfunny and boring. A 1 all the way.

The 1980s gave us some really great and really bad movies. Skin Deep is a perfect way to end the decade of misguided dreams and bland taste. Skin Deep gives the audience some great shots of humor but does not maintain the laughs throughout the film. I kept wondering if if I was watching a slap stick comedy, a dramedy or a drama with a few laughs. It was directed as though it were a made for TV movie with plenty of wide shots, bland sets and bland characters. Additionally, I found none of the women in this movie very attractive either. I blame part of that on the 1980s hairstyles for women that left a lot to be desired. Skin Deep is enjoyable one time around but after that one time, it's easy to see why it has been forgotten by many.

I loved this movie. While not the most cerebral affair, it does a good job of "fleshing" out John Ritter's lead character. He is a man at wit's end, not able to write or compose, estranged from his wife and grown children, and flitting haplessly from girl to girl. Seriously, the man cannot "not get laid". Even when he swears off women, they fall for him right and left. Obviously an 'adults only' movie, with some nudity and adult language, the story is both worthwhile and entertaining. Ritter's character finds himself, solves his problems, and in the end "makes good". In the progress of the story, though, there are times you'll be lightheaded, wondering what's wrong, and you'll realize you've been laughing so hard that you can't breathe.

John Ritter basically plays Jack Tripper (AKA Zachary Hutton) in a more adult setting in this movie. All the physical comedy practically screams Jack Tripper at you. That is a good thing, and it resulted in a pretty funny movie.. at times. It did seem to drag around the beginning, but when his life started falling apart, that's when the fun began. Another movie that this one reminded me of is Burt Reynolds' The Man Who Loved Women. The plot seemed to be the same. A womanizing man's ways catch up with him. Skin Deep was funnier, though, due to Ritter's comedy. The "Glow In The Dark" scene still holds up as a very funny scene today. I'm surprised I haven't seen it spoofed in one of many of today's "gross out" comedies, as it would certainly fit right in.The comedy was certainly up to par, but the movie makes you wait until the it is over half done to see it. The ending also seemed left a little unfinished. Nothing really happens to end the movie. It was very Adam Sandler-esque with how all of the characters in the movie were now his friends and he was just successful, without going into how he accomplished what he did despite all of his previous problems that hindered him before. Overall, I give this movie a 7 out of 10.