i have see this movie on television sometime in the middle 70 and when i be in my twenty and have a special fondness for natalie wood . i be surprise to see this movie on dvd when i be in the store a few day ago and but i do not see anything else that i really want to watch and and be naturally curious about it and so i rent it . while far from be a bad movie and bob and carol and ted and alice be certainly not what i would consider a good movie . it be a pretentious movie about self center and superficial people . the late sixty be a unique period in the twentieth century and when for a short period of a few year and throughout western culture and people be test the limit of traditional sexual taboo . bob and carol and ted and alice tell the story of a middle aged couple who be catch up in the liberated attitude of the time and for a brief period at least . when push come to shove and they realize that they prefer the traditional lifestyle . so what . do this really make an interesting subject for a feature length film . in and of itself and it do not . possibly and a different storyline and similar to this one but not exactly the same a this one and would have be interest . but this one happen to be dead boring . i sit through the first ten minute without once touch the fast forward button . then i say to myself and i will zip past just this part . next thing i know and i be fast forwarding past another part that have just become tiresome and then another and then another and and i have to make myself stop . i sit through another ten or fifteen minute think that if i try harder and pay attention and the dialog would become interesting . but i be force to accept the truth and which be that the dialog in this movie be exceedingly pretentious and boring . all that a movie of this sort have go for it be the dialog . but the dialog in this movie be boring and pretentious . back at the time this movie be release and it be interest because it deal with social issue that be then current . but that be thirty five year ago . person with a strong curiosity about that period might find this movie interesting and even though this be by no mean one of the good movie deal with that subject matter . person with a special interest in the career of one of the four actor might also find it somewhat interesting and although this movie be a best a footnote on any of their career . if you be look for a movie that convey a realistic sense of what suburban life be like in that period and there be lot of good choice . the movie and the ice storm and make in 1997 and set in 1973 and have similar theme and and it be infinitely more intelligent . anyone who look at these two movie side by side will surely agree that bob and carol and ted and alice and while moderately amuse when it be current and have no last value .