Sweet Temptation (film)

Sweet Temptation
Screenplay by	Joyce Eliason
Directed by	Ron Lagomarsino
Starring	Jenny Lewis Beverly D'Angelo Rob Estes
Music by	Mark Snow
Country of origin	United States Germany Poland
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Jack Clements
Cinematography	Eagle Egilsson
Running time	96 minutes
Production company	The Königsberg Company
Original release
Release	March 6, 1996 (1996-03-06)

Sweet Temptation is an American 1996 romantic drama television film directed by Ron Lagomarsino and starring Jenny Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, and Rob Estes. The film shows the story of sixteen year old Jade Larson, living with her divorced mother Jesse, and the complications that ensue when her mother's boyfriend Billy Stone moves in. Supporting roles are portrayed by Meadow Sisto, Francia Dimase, Ted Shackelford, Wendy Lawless, Judyann Elder, and Brian Donovan.

The tagline used for the film are "Some Lines Should Never Be Crossed".

In the United States of America, the film's working title is Sweet Mouthful.

Plot

Divorcée Jesse Larson lives on the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico with her sixteen year old daughter Jade. She owns and operates an Italian catering company entitled Boccone Dolce (Sweet Mouthful). Jade makes the daily runs to local coffeehouses in the area, one of which belongs to her mother's live-in boyfriend Billy Stone. Later that evening, Jade and Billy wrestle around in Jesse's bed. Jesse enters the room and dismisses Jade back to her own room, disapproving of Jade's inappropriate sleepwear. Jesse is further peeved when she finds out Billy was naked the entire time Jade sat next to him in bed. Billy proposes marriage to Jesse though she declines favoring her sense of freedom and waiting for the situation to be right for Jade.

The following night, when Jesse is preparing for a dinner date with Billy, Jade asks if she can tag along, Jesse allows her to do so and the trio dine at an upscale restaurant where their Italian waiter Mario recognizes Jesse from formally working at Boccone Dolce. When they return home, Jade, obviously displeased from the night's turn of events, heads straight to bed, but not before an intoxicated Jesse stumbles into her bedroom informing her that it's fun to be in love and advises Jade that she meet more people to experience having a boyfriend of her own.

The next evening, when Jesse is assisting Jade in straightening her bedroom, she uncovers a carton of cigarettes. When Jade lies about the cigarettes, Jesse threatens her if she doesn't adjust her apparent attitude problem. Jade suddenly experiences a flashback from when she was in the midst of her parents' divorce and realizes her mother never cared about her. Jade uses this as an excuse to run off to her best friend Horizon's home where Billy tackles her onto Horizon's front lawn. Jade insults Billy who slaps her prompting Horizon to run inside. Billy kisses a stunned Jade who seems to reciprocate. Horizon informs Billy her mother phoned the police on grounds of child abuse. Billy claims that won't be necessary and leads a compliant Jade back to his car.

Jesse is initially upset with Billy for disciplining her daughter, but later forgives him. After a long day spent at the beach, an exhausted Jesse falls asleep when they return home. She later wakes up to find Billy and Jade watching a film and orders Jade to remove her sheepdog Otis from her bed and continues the movie downstairs. Billy attempts to have sexual intercourse with Jesse, but when she rejects him, he goes downstairs to have sex with Jade, unbeknownst to Jesse.

The next morning, Billy reminds a regretful Jade not to tell Jesse in fear she may never forgive them. After Jade quits her job, Billy allows her to work in the stockroom of his coffeehouse where he apologizes to her and offers her a cash bribe if it means not telling her mother. Jesse then surprises Billy and questions Jade about why she isn't at work. Jade tells her she quit before leaving. When Jesse confronts her, Jade is about to tell her the truth when Billy intimidates her into silence. Jade evades her mother and a panicked Billy issues Jesse an ultimatum: either she weds him or he will walk out of her life. Jesse accepts which provokes jealousy in Jade.

The following morning, Jade visits her father Les and informs him of the sexual encounter with an adult though she doesn't disclose who the man is or what his relation is to her. Jade emphasizes that she refuses to press charges due to the fact he has two children whom he cares for. When Jessie is notified, she manages to extract the truth from the hysterical and emotionally confused Jade; it was Billy. The pressure of the situation prompts Jade to suffer from an asthma attack where she is transported to the emergency room and sent to to live with Les and his stepwife Denise. When Jade decides to permanetly reside with her father, Jesse breaks down crying and comes to the beilef she is a horrible mother. Jesse informs Billy of what had transpired and threatens him to stay out of their lives, the engagement is over, and if she ever goes near her or Jade; she will murder him.

Several months later, Jade continues to live with Les and Denise. She took her mother's advice and opened up her "friendship circle" and has become more popular at her new school than the previous one she attended. Jesse regularly visits her daughter where Jade suggests for Jesse to resume her relationship with Billy now that she is no longer around. But, Jesse promises Jade there will be no chance of reconciling. The two discuss Denise's belief in reincarnation before Les arrives to pick up Jade. As Jade races to the vehicle she turns around and tells her mother that if there is such a thing as reincarnation she would still like to be her daughter. This brings tears to Jesse's eyes and she announces her love and sacrifice for her daughter. Jesse continues to walk along the shore of the beach with Otis when she turns to stare at the blue expanse hoping for a brighter future and a new beginning.

Cast

Beverly D'Angelo...Jesse Larson

Jenny Lewis...Jade Larson

Rob Estes...Billy Stone

Francia Dimase...Caroline

Meadow Sisto...Horizon

Wendy Lawless...Denise

Ted Shackelford...Les Larson

Judyann Elder...Teak

Natasha Dorfhuber...Molly Stone

Brian Donovan...Shand

Brenda Issacs Booth...Saleslady

Nancy Linehan Charles...Supervisor

Mary Joy...Doctor

Pamela Kosh...Dowager

John LaMotta...Gino

Sarah Dampf...Little Girl

David Quittman...Robbie Stone

Michael Raimi...Boy On Phone

Sheila Willis...Lawyer

Victor Alfieri... Mario (uncredited)

Michael Caradonna...Surfer (uncredited)

Michael Clark Elias... Brian (uncredited)

Reviews

The film currently holds a 25% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

External links

• Sweet Temptation at IMDb