American couple Michael Pappas (Peter Gallagher) and Cathy Featherstone (Daryl Hannah) rent a Greek villa for their summer holidays. They are struck by the sexually liberated culture. He's intrigued by archaeologist Lina (Valérie Quennessen) while Cathy does her amateur photography. He tells her about Lina. They test out having outside relationships. Cathy gets frustrated and confronts Lina. Lina turns out to be friendly and they become three best friends and eventual summer lovers. The threesome is interrupted by the arrival of Cathy's mother.

This is cheesy 80s fare. It's a little fun and has plenty of nudity. The characters are likable. Nobody is too annoying with too much personal drama. This is basically a guilty pleasure. I have no problem with people complaining about a general emptiness. The acting is basically good enough. The story is better than softcore porn. This is not the highest of dramas.

Amorous Michael (hunky Peter Gallagher) and his sweet girlfriend Cathy (Daryl Hannah at her most charming and delectable) are an American couple vacationing on the Greek island of Santorini. Michael has a fling with alluring, exotic and uninhibited French archaeologist Lina (the mesmerizing Valerie Quennessen). Michael tells Cathy about his infidelity and Cathy goes out of her way to meet Lina. Cathy becomes so enamored of Lina that she agrees to a menage a trois relationship. Writer/director Randal Kleiser offers a good-natured and engrossing love story between three people that works as both a happy and dynamic ode to the free'n'easy early 80's sexual revolution and a provocative commentary on preconceived notions about monogamy and so-called "normal" relationships. Moreover, Kleiser handles the copious nudity and feverish sensuality in a tasteful and matter-of-fact way; this film never becomes sleazy or exploitative despite the racy subject matter. Instead a positively infectious spirit of carefree fun and innocence pervades throughout. The three attractive leads all give appealingly warm and natural performances, with the strikingly comely, poised and charismatic Quennessen rating as the stand-out of the bunch. Barbara Rush contributes a funny cameo as Cathy's loving, but disapproving mother Jean and Carole Cook is a total hoot as Jean's cheery friend Barbara. Timothy Galfas' bright, glossy cinematography vividly evokes a palpably lush and languid sultry atmosphere. The infectiously bouncy rock soundtrack adds immensely to the bubbly, upbeat merriment. An offbeat, enjoyable and underrated little delight.

I think most people will enjoy "Summer Lovers" as one of those lowest-common-denominator fossils of the early-'80s. A young couple vacations in Greece, ostensibly to save their rocky relationship, falling rather innocently into a sexual menage with a beautiful archaeologist. Though made by competent professionals, the movie comes off as the most basic type of low-brow movie-making imaginable, filled with flashes of peek-a-boo nudity. Some of it is truly embarrassing, although the cast is squirrelly and fun, particularly Daryl Hannah (pre-"Splash") as one of those uptight American beauties who learns to loosen up with another woman in her bed. It's a clichéd role in a clichéd movie, but Hannah has a dryly sassy way with her dialogue and nearly creates a real character. "Summer Lovers" almost manages to mask its titillation aims with an innocent, nonchalant air that is rather attractive...but you'll hate yourself in the morning for sitting all the way through it. ** from ****