Taglines: The Story of Jack & Jill … and Jill.
Different Strokes movie storyline. The late Dana Plato, star of TV’s Different Strokes, exploited her notoriety with this softcore lesbian-themed exploitation film from director Michael Paul Girard (Bikini Med School). Plato stars as one of two women named Jill (Landon Hall from the Escort sequels is the other) caught in a love triangle.
Plato’s Jill is a New York art director who comes into the life of Hall’s Jill, a beautiful fashion model, and seduces her away from her photographer-lover Jack, played by Bentley Mitchum, grandson of Robert Mitchum and erstwhile co-star of TV’s The Wonder Years. This film has gained some popularity among the more sensitive fans of the genre for its careful development of the story’s lesbian relationship, providing more heat and romantic motivation for its softcore love scenes than most similar projects. Gabriella Hall is around to cheer on her sister’s newfound sexual freedom, along with David Millbern and Michelle Trongone.
Different Strokes (also titled Different Strokes: The Story of Jack and Jill…and Jill) is a 1998 erotic drama film about a love triangle involving a young couple and another woman. Written and directed by Michael Paul Girard, the film stars Dana Plato, Landon Hall, and Bentley Mitchum. The film’s title exploits Plato’s fame from the TV series, Diff’rent Strokes. It was Plato’s first film appearance since 1992, and would be her second to last film before her death in 1999.
Nathan Rabin gave the film a harsh review, stating “The shamelessly titled Different Strokes (…) lacks anything resembling even community-theater-level acting”, concluding the film “is notable mainly for its aggressive lack of shame. From its title to its threadbare plot to its community-access-level production values, the film reeks of crass exploitation.”
Different Strokes (1998)
Directed by: Michael Paul Girard
Starring: Dana Plato, Bentley Mitchum, Landon Hall, David Millbern, Gabriella Hall, Michelle Trongone, Noëlle Balfour, Erica Gold, Samantha James, Jilda Trolio, Christa Herzog
Screenplay by: Michael Paul Girard
Cinematography by: Gerald M. Williams
Film Editing by: H. Kim
Makeup Department: Vera Zay
Music by: Michael Paul Girard
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexuality, nudity and language.
Distributed by: Coastline Films
Release Date: June 25, 1998
Hits: 1991
