- Content: “A Doomed Romance That Captivated America”
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What You Need To Know:
Episode 1 of LOVE STORY: JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. & CAROLYN BESSETTE is an entertaining step back into the 1990s. The Kennedys are a family plagued by tragedy. This program takes a realistic look at celebrity worship and its challenges. Episode 1 of this miniseries on John F. Kennedy, Jr., and his wife, Carolyn, has a Romantic worldview. It focuses on the early stages of their whirlwind romance, mixed with some family and other light moral content. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for heavy smoking, alcohol, drug use, strong but brief language, partial nudity, and sexual promiscuity.
Content:
Strong Romantic worldview has themes of celebrity idolatry while exploring an iconic couple’s early relationship, the lead male character struggles to see things from his own perspective as the world and his mother inspect his every move, the lead female character is a confident party-girl with real talent for reading others and an eye for celebrity potential and fashion but is living a life of drinking and drugs and promiscuity in pursuit of making her way to the top though everything changes when she’s introduced to America’s favorite son, lead female sees the famous lead male character for the person he is beneath his famous name and treats him like a regular guy, although the famous young man is arguably better than her usual romantic entanglements, she holds her own against his charms as a major celebrity that the whole of NYC is falling over themselves just to get a glimpse, female lead doesn’t idolize the male lead but she recognizes his status, so the question seems to be whether her intentions are true, but the main worldview is mitigated by some moral elements about family, the pitfalls of fame and celebrity, and some capitalist content;
10 obscenities (including seven “f” words);
No violence;
Promiscuity is a frequent theme, but fornication is implied rather than depicted;
Partial brief female nudity;
Drinking alcohol is shown in several scenes including a high-profile fundraiser event, bars and discussions of drunkenness which leads to promiscuity;
Frequent, heavy cigarette smoking, and some drug use such as snorting cocaine in a club; and,
Strong miscellaneous immorality includes a dysfunctional family where there is much anxiety related to spending time with relatives due to expectation, judgement and passive-aggressive behaviors, some moral relativism where the Kennedy family must live a different life and do not truly understand normal everyday life and are not held to the same standards (perhaps even held to a higher standard) but are above others in their celebrity status, and lead female characters seems a bit envious of rich and powerful people, aiming to get there on her own, which is commendable in her drive, but leaves her in a singular moral pitfall in her single, party-girl lifestyle that pushes others away.
More Detail:
With a Romantic worldview, LOVE STORY: JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. & CAROLYN BESSETTE is an entertaining step back into the 1990s. It makes tabloid headlines come to life. While the Kennedys are a family fraught with tragedy, this episode takes a realistic look at celebrity worship and the challenges of living with that as a young man. Extreme caution is advised for heavy smoking, alcohol, drug use, some foul language, partial nudity, and sexual promiscuity.
An epigraph explains that the story “is inspired by actual events”. Certain depictions of people and events have been dramatized or fictionalized for storytelling purposes.” The first episode opens on the fatal day of Friday, July 16, 1999, when John and Carolyn died in a plane crash.
As the episode opens, John’s wife, Carolyn, is getting her nails done while photographers swarm outside. She asks the nail lady to switch to a “safer” color.
Meanwhile, John F. Kennedy, Jr. finishes writing a letter and heads out of his office to meet his sister-in-law in the car heading to the airport. They are heading to the Kennedy compound for a high-profile Kennedy family wedding. Carolyn will meet them at the airport. On the way, John expresses frustration to his sister-in-law about Carolyn’s reluctance to visit with his family on this trip. This seems to be an ongoing problem. The sister-in-law tries to help smooth over the implied marital issues, insisting Carolyn is trying to join him this time.
Cut to a runway with a small private jet. Carolyn arrives late, as John is worried the family will throw a “hissy fit.” She asks where the flight instructor is to help John fly the plane, and her sister insists she pick her battles. John apologizes, and they kiss. The plane flies off toward their destiny.
Seven years earlier in New York City, Carolyn wakes up and, with cigarettes in hand, heads to work at Calvin Klein, the clothes designer. She heads to her desk with a coworker, discussing the events of their evening at the bar and the men they “hooked up” with last night. They finally arrive at their desks.
Meanwhile, JFK Jr. heads for the gym and sees the newspaper headline: “The Hunk Flunks Again.” As he works out, he’s haunted by the headlines of his second bar exam failure. He has one more attempt to pass the bar, or he will lose his position as Assistant DA. He worries he can’t show his face with these headlines.
Carolyn, a salesperson at Calvin Klein, assists in styling a celebrity. Her manager, Tanya, insists on being the first in line to handle this client. Tanya insists that Calvin Klein specifically wanted this dress, but the client isn’t sure about it. Carolyn offers to find another option. The boss, Calvin Klein himself, approaches. Carolyn comes up with an unorthodox suggestion, which catches Calvin’s attention.
John has dinner with his mother, Jackie Onassis, and his sister, Caroline. They argue. John accuses Jackie of monitoring his personal life as she expresses disapproval of his relationships and flings. Later that evening, Jackie says she just wants him to find his way.
At a fundraiser, Carolyn bribes her way and is introduced to John by Calvin Klein. They have instant chemistry, but she refuses an exchange of numbers telling him he knows where she works.
JFK Jr. arrives the next day at the Calvin Klein office, as a stunned receptionist dreamily points him in Carolyn’s direction. Carolyn measures him for a suit. He asks to take her to dinner. As he leaves, the office buzzes with excitement, but Calvin Klein is aghast.
At an unassuming restaurant filled with Christmas lights, Carolyn walks out because John is late. Riding a bike, John arrives, calls for her to wait and begs her to go in with him. She says he’s 20 minutes late, but she goes anyway.
Inside, they discuss their lives. Carolyn shares that she worked at a Calvin Klein store in the mall. The exec saw her deal with a customer’s meltdown, and she moved up the corporate ladder. She explains that she doesn’t have a backup plan or a trust fund, so she has to make this work. She asks John a question he’s never been asked before. She allows him to walk her home, and they share a kiss.
The next day, John shares with a friend that Carolyn’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. However, when he goes home, his ex-girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah, is waiting for him.
The next day, Carolyn arrives at work and makes a profound decision for Calvin Klein’s new model with impressive insight. John has a discussion with Jackie, his mother. In a beautiful monologue, Jackie describes the kind of woman John should pursue. Meanwhile, Carolyn sees an upsetting headline.
Episode 1 of LOVE STORY: JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. & CAROLYN BESSETTE is an entertaining step back into the 1990s that makes 1990s tabloid headlines come to life. While the Kennedys are a family fraught with tragedy, the program takes a realistic look at celebrity worship and the challenges of living with that crown as a young person.
Episode 1 of this story about John F. Kennedy, Jr, and his wife, Carolyn, has a Romantic worldview. It focuses on the early stages of their whirlwind romance, but it’s mixed with some moral elements focusing on family and the pitfalls of fame and celebrity. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for heavy smoking, drug use, some foul language, partial nudity, and sexual promiscuity.
