Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- raunchy
- wry
- date night
- 1980s comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics found John Ritter’s charm and occasional emotional intelligence appealing, but largely viewed the film as uneven and derivative of Blake Edwards’s earlier work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Zach is a drunken writer whose alcoholism contributes to marital collapse, legal trouble, and professional stagnation.
The film uses womanizing mishaps and comic embarrassment while also treating Zach’s loneliness, divorce, and emotional dependence seriously.
Zach’s inability to finish his novel parallels the broader disintegration of his romantic and personal life.
Zach remains in love with his ex-wife despite infidelity and hostility from her family.
Films like Skin Deep, and why
Arthur
adult romantic comedy centered on infidelity, divorce, alcoholism, and a flawed womanizer
10
blake edwards comedy combining screwball situations with romantic and emotional undercurrents
High Fidelity
relationship comedy about an immature, self-destructive man confronting romantic consequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Blake Edwards
- Release Date
- 1989-03-03
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (95)
Cast
- John Ritter
- Vincent Gardenia
- Alyson Reed
- Joel Brooks
- Julianne Phillips
- Chelsea Field
- Peter Donat
- Don Gordon
- Nina Foch
- Denise Crosby
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Skin Deep about?
- A boozy, womanizing novelist stumbles through romantic and professional chaos while trying to recover the love and self-control he has squandered.
- What is Skin Deep like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Skin Deep as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Skin Deep violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Skin Deep as mild.
- What did critics think of Skin Deep?
- Critics found John Ritter’s charm and occasional emotional intelligence appealing, but largely viewed the film as uneven and derivative of Blake Edwards’s earlier work.
- Which films are like Skin Deep?
- Films with a similar feel include Arthur, 10, and High Fidelity.
- How long is Skin Deep?
- Skin Deep runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Skin Deep?
- In United States, Skin Deep streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
