Mad Love (1995)
A teenage romance that dares to ask whether love alone can save someone — or whether it might make everything worse.
Mad Love - Movie Information
- Original Title: Mad Love
- Release Year: 1995
- Directed by: Antonia Bird
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Age Rating (US): PG-13
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 26, 1995 (United States - PG-13)
- Alternative Titles: Amor de Locos (MX), Сумасшедшая любовь (RU)
- Production Companies: Touchstone Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Mad Love - Plot
Matt falls for Casey, the new girl in school. She's fun-loving and eccentric, but there's a darkness to her whimsy that Matt can't begin to comprehend. When Casey attempts to commit suicide, her parents place her in a mental institution. Matt springs her out, and together the young lovers head on a road trip. They believe their love can "cure" Casey's problems. Matt starts to wonder, though, if are they inspired or misguided.
Mad Love - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see where this reckless road trip begins:
A wild and sexy adventure!
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Mad Love - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Antonia Bird
Main Cast
- Chris O'Donnell
- Drew Barrymore
- Matthew Lillard
- Richard Chaim
- Robert Nadir
- Joan Allen
- Jude Ciccolella
- Amy Sakasitz
- T.J. Lowther
- Kevin Dunn
Writers
- Paula Milne
Producers
- David Manson
Mad Love - FAQs
What is Mad Love (1995) about?
Mad Love follows Matt, a responsible teenager who becomes infatuated with Casey, a charismatic but emotionally troubled new girl. After Casey is placed in a psychiatric facility following a suicide attempt, Matt breaks her out and the two embark on a road trip, convinced their love alone can heal her. The film explores the limits of romantic idealism when mental illness is involved.
Does Mad Love have a happy ending?
Mad Love ends on a bittersweet note rather than a conventional happy one. Matt ultimately comes to understand that love alone cannot substitute for proper treatment, and Casey's condition forces a reckoning with reality. The film resists the easy romantic resolution its road-trip premise might suggest, opting instead for emotional honesty.
Where can you stream or rent Mad Love?
You can watch Mad Love on Hoopla for free, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. There are plenty of options depending on whether you prefer streaming or digital purchase.
How does Mad Love portray mental illness?
The film takes a notably grounded approach for a mid-90s teen romance. Casey's bipolar disorder is depicted with real consequences rather than romanticized quirks, and the story gradually shifts Matt's perspective from idealistic rescuer to someone confronting the limits of love. Critics noted this as one of the film's more thoughtful qualities.
Who stars in Mad Love (1995)?
Chris O'Donnell and Drew Barrymore lead the cast as Matt and Casey. Matthew Lillard appears in an early supporting role, and Joan Allen plays Casey's mother. The pairing of O'Donnell and Barrymore was a notable draw, coming off their respective rising profiles in the mid-1990s.
Is Mad Love based on a true story?
Mad Love is not based on a specific true story. It is an original screenplay written by Paula Milne. However, the film draws on recognizable real-world experiences of teenage mental illness, institutionalization, and the way young love can blur the line between devotion and enabling behavior.
Who directed Mad Love and what is her background?
Mad Love was directed by Antonia Bird, a British filmmaker known for her socially conscious work. Before this film she directed the acclaimed Priest (1994), and she later helmed Face (1997) and Ravenous (1999). Bird was recognized for bringing a thoughtful, character-driven sensibility to genre material throughout her career.
What movies are similar to Mad Love (1995)?
If Mad Love resonated with you, try It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) and Charlie Bartlett (2008) for similar teen-and-mental-health themes, or Chemical Hearts (2020) for another emotionally raw teenage romance. The Doom Generation (1995) shares the road-trip-gone-dark energy for viewers wanting something edgier.
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