But Charles' biggest problem is that he is love with someone he can't have. That someone is Laura (Mary Beth Hurt), a pretty blonde woman who is married to Jim (Mark Metcalf), a breezy but dull salesman. Laura strings both Charles and Jim along. She enjoys Charles' whimsical humor but is put off by his obsessive interest in her.
Betty (Nora Heflin) is a secretary for Charles' intrusive boss (Jerry Hardin). Betty has a romantic interest in Charles that he doesn't return. Tarah Nutter is Charles' attractive but bland sister. Allen Joseph has a recurring bit as a blind and ill-mannered candy salesman. Griffin Dunne shows up as a doctor, and familiar character actress Frances Bay is an irrepressible hospital patient. The writer of the source novel, Ann Beattie, plays a no-nonsense waitress.
How others will see it. Chilly Scenes of Winter was initially released in 1979 as Head Over Heels, marketed desperately by United Artists as a romantic comedy. It had an unlikely happy ending, was ignored by critics, and flopped at the box office.
Three years later, it returned to theaters with its present title and a new, more realistic ending. Again, it created little stir. Today, more than 40 years later, it has only managed 1200 user votes at imdb.com, but has a good user rating of 7.0 out of 10. The user reviews are thoughtful, and run the gamut from okay-plus to greatly underrated.
How I felt about it. It is easy to understand Charles' love for Laura. His life has a big empty spot, and he wants her to fill it. Sure, he'd be better off with Betty, but why want someone you can have, when you might get someone that you want?
Laura doesn't know what she wants. She feels trapped in her marriage to Jim. Charles can be fun to be with, but he also can be demanding and controlling. She doesn't want to be kept by him, either. She's not sure of what she wants, or doesn't want, and would like to keep her options open until she decides.
We are supposed to be on Charles' side in his pursuit of Laura. But he has his issues. At one point, he threatens to rape Laura. He also uses Betty selfishly and shamelessly. As the film continues, we feel less sorry for him, and more understanding of why Laura wants to keep some distance from him.
So, it's sad for everyone. None of the characters seem to have what they really want. Laura, for example, ends the film alone, estranged from her husband, her boyfriend, and her daughter. The gloomy outlook for hopes and dreams runs parallel with the weather. Wherever they are, it is always January and snowy. Maybe the characters should consider a trip to Fort Lauderdale.