Movie Reviews : ‘Bliss’ Isn’t, but Director Shows Promise

Although “Terminal Bliss” (citywide) takes seriously the emotional conflicts and moral confusion of a group of affluent, overly indulged suburban young people adrift in a sea of casual sex and drugs, it lacks the perspective, the sharp cutting edge, that might make these individuals and their self-destructive life style of interest. As a result, for the viewer the film might be better called “Terminal Boredom.”

It figures that the two young men (Tim Owen, Luke Perry) and the young woman (Estee Chandler) they both pursue don’t reveal the slightest awareness that there’s a world outside themselves and their privileged community. Unfortunately, because the film’s 21-year-old debuting writer-director Jordan Alan doesn’t take the larger view himself, these three, all of whom are ultimately unsympathetic, take on an all-consuming importance for him that is difficult, if downright impossible, for us to share.

Instead of persuading us to become involved in his people, Alan makes us think of all the countless others whose problems seem so far more pressing and worthier of our concern.

If Alan is not nearly as detached as he needs to be on his first outing, he nevertheless reveals sufficient talent and craftsmanship, a capability of drawing good performances from his actors, that he deserves another shot. ‘Terminal Bliss’

Tim Owen Alex Golden

Luke Perry John Hunter

Estee Chandler Stevie Bradley

Sonia Curtis Kirsten Davis

A Cannon Pictures presentation in association with Distant Horizon. Writer-director Jordan Alan. Producer Brian Cox. Executive producer Anant Singh. Cinematographer Gregory Smith. Editor Bruce Sinofsky. Music Frank W. Becker. Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes.

MPAA-rated R (for drug use, language, sex and violence).