COUGAR CLUB - AT FIRST SIGHT (1999)

Welcome to the first Cougar Club. Basically, this is old chick flicks that you may (or may not) have seen in the past. The Chick Flicks that still got it. For those of you out there that are not familiar with the term "cougar", dictionary.com defines the word as this;


noun, plural -gars, ( especially collectively ) -gar.
a large, tawny cat, Felis concolor, of North and South America: now greatly reduced in number and endangered in some areas.

While cougars are endangered in some areas they have been seen in Southern California, New York, and Florida plus many other urban areas. They may not be as endangered as suggested by the definition (See, SATC 2, for an example).



The first selection for the Cougar Club is the Val Kilmer vehicle, "At First Sight" (1999) co-starring Mira Sorvino, and directed by Irwin Winkler. It is the story of Amy Benic (Mira Sorvino), a New York architect who meets a very good masseuse, Virgil, while vacationing at a resort. They fall in love and Amy convinces Virgil to undergo radical eye surgery which may help him be able to regain his vision.



Losely based on a true story, this movie does have moments that make it quite good, although it does have it's weak points. Kilmer is somehow believable as a blindman, even though it feels at times he is channelling his inner Jim Morrison. Mira Sorvino is in one of her better roles since winning the Academy Award for "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995). Irwin Winkler is more of a producer than director but, the direction isn't bad.

Watching this movie again, I did find it enjoyable. It was more well-crafted then most chick flicks. I mean with a tagline like, "Only Love Can Bring You To Your Senses", how could it not be enjoyable. This is the type of "chick flick" that feels a little more real than, "The Switch". So I say give it a try.

Has it aged gracefully like a fine wine? I don't know. The coat that Kilmer is wearing throughout the movie (see poster) looks like something I would have scowered through thrift stores and garage sales for in 1999, but today. Who knows. I do think the movie still holds up well. Kilmer and Sorvino didnt hold up as well. Kilmer has aged and put on some weight and Sorvino has all but disappeared. Don't think it would play as well today if it was made with Fatty Kilmer. Just my thoughts.

"Science gave him his sight, She gave him vision"