Marek Kanievska's 1987 film "Less than Zero" centers on three affluent eighteen-year-olds living in Los Angeles. Following their graduation, one character heads to college (played by Andrew McCarthy), but returns home for Christmas break and discovers his former girlfriend (Jami Gertz) and a close friend (Robert Downey Jr.) battling drug addiction amidst the luxurious lifestyle of Beverly Hills. James Spader portrays a wealthy dealer with an air of arrogance. It’s unlike most movies aimed at young audiences from the eighties, such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Karate Kid,” “Valley Girl,” “Footloose,” and even “Can’t Buy Me Love,” despite that last one having considerable variety. "Less than Zero" combines a grand, artistic feel reminiscent of Francis Ford Coppola's films like "The Outsiders" and “Rumble Fish” (both released in 1983) with the stylish sadness found in something like “Poison Ivy” from 1992. My biggest problem is that it feels drawn out; I struggled to connect with the characters and their narrative. The visuals are beautiful, which seems contradictory given how bleak the movie truly is. Gertz doesn’t particularly impress, and McCarthy, while adequate as the lead, comes across as a bit too wholesome. However, Downey Jr. and Spader both deliver strong performances. If you appreciate somber, artistic films, this might appeal to you more than it did to me, but it's not nearly as impactful as “Poison Ivy,” another artsy and depressing film. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes and was filmed in various Los Angeles locations, including Malibu. The screenplay is based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel and adapted by Harley Peyton. GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB