Loverboy

Loverboy centers on Randy Bodek, a pizza delivery driver who stumbles into an unusual side gig and a lot of trouble. Working late tips help him dream bigger, until a pattern among certain customers reveals a provocative hook that shifts his nightly rounds. When a delivery with extra anchovies becomes a signal for something more than a tip, Randy tests the waters of a gigolo life, chasing cash and attention while dodging the fallout of his double life. He finds himself juggling flirtations, misread signals, and the awkward line between humor and heartbreak. As the cash piles up, so do the complications, forcing Randy to decide how far he will go before his worlds collide. Loud laughs mix with tenderness.

Directed by Joan Micklin Silver, Loverboy adapts an original screenplay by Robin Schiff, Leslie Dixon, and Tom Ropelewski. The 1989 comedy romance was released by Paramount, pairing Patrick Dempsey in a playful showcase with Kate Jackson and others in cast.

The movie gave Patrick Dempsey one of his first starring turns, a wink at late 80s dating culture that sits between screwball and satire. Its blunt premise about gigolo life sparked casual conversations about money, desire, and the limits of romance in a social era hungry for cheeky tabloid humor.

Critics were split on its tone balancing risqué humor with a softer look. The film leans into the tension between appearance and reality, money and affection, yet still aims for laughs. It asks how much a person changes when survival and attraction push toward risky choices today for modern audiences.

There were no major awards or nominations for Loverboy, and it did not become a fixtures on year end lists. The film remains a minor entry in late 1980s romantic comedies, notable mainly for its cast and edgy premise overall.