Book Review : A Sexual Fantasy That Romps to a Happy Ending

October 27, 1986|CAROLYN SEE

Belinda's "family"--an evil uncle and a few sycophants--unites in an effort to ship her off to a Swiss boarding school that will function as a prison. It's "Snow White" all over again, as well as an interesting parallel to Jeremy's own position: While he can't grow up, Belinda is not allowed to grow up. Her own sexuality will mean certain death to her mother's biological appeal. (That mother, also conforming to the fantasies of others, is having all the fat systematically sucked from her body, so that as an anorexic semi-corpse she can measure up to the fantasy life of American television.)

Happy Endings Galore

As you can imagine, Part Two is somewhat depressing. But in Part Three, Jeremy enlists his friends to find the runaway Belinda. And several separate happy endings begin to come into play. There are--in a mildly Shakespearean turn--two other couples. Belinda's real father and Jeremy's movie-star friend fall in love and end up together. And a gorgeous lesbian lady, dressed in satin cowboy outfits, finds romantic satisfaction and career success.

Limousines arrive, flowers are ordered by the truckful and many champagne toasts are consumed. Belinda becomes old enough to get married in some states and is no longer considered a child. Naturally, true love triumphs, but that it does so in an atmosphere of congeniality and happiness is the final, wholesome, utterly charming fantasy. Sex is as nice as champagne and friendship, Rampling earnestly instructs us. Value it! Don't be puritanical morons \o7 all\f7 your life.

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