Love Potion No. 9 (also written as Love Potion #9) is a 1992 American romantic comedy directed by Dale Launer that has two scientists (Tate Donovan and Sandra Bullock) who come across a love potion that enables them to be irresistible to people of the opposite sex.
The movie also stars Dale Midkiff, Mary Mara, Hillary B Smith, Anne Bancroft, Dylan Baker, and Blake Clark.
It was released on November 13, 1992.
Tropes for the film:
- Compelling Voice: An Applied Phlebotinum (not the no. 9 potion, but the love potion no. 8) which gave to the one who drank it the ability tell people of the opposite sex to be attracted to them. However, the user of the potion lacks control: where Paul ends up being chased by a mob of aroused women, Diane puts her mark under the assumption she just likes to do the "mute game", using Hand Signals and her boyfriend as a Translator Buddy, well knowing that, if she were to speak in public while under the effect of the potion no. 8, she'd stir a major ruckus with a simple word.
- Double Standard: Rape, Sci-Fi: Diane and her platonic friend, Paul, get access to a potion that, when sprayed into someone's mouth, alters their voice to make them much more attractive to the opposite sex. Apparently the fact that it doesn't directly affect the target dodges the rape bullet in the minds of the filmmakers since Paul uses it to have sex with an entire sorority (among other women).
- Mistaken for Gay: The gypsy woman Paul receives the love potions from asks if he's gay after seeing absolutely no women in his future from his palm reading.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Beautiful!: Averted, then later played almost straight when
Hollywood Homely Diane has a car that will stall if she stops at stop signs, and is caught running one by a cop. Her best efforts to escape a ticket fail early in the film. She succeeds after getting some of the titular potion later, though not really because she's any better looking. - Translator Buddy: Used when Diane, gets a sample of the Love Potion no. 8, she receives the power of a Compelling Voice, of the sexual nature and working only with the opposite sex. Upon entrancing a rich mook, to avoid the potential hassles of being chased, harassed or desired by every single man at her speaking distance, she cleverly puts the mook under the assumption she just enjoys "play the mute game", that is using a simplified form of sign language while in public, and letting him graciously act as her mouthpiece.
