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New York Times
October 19, 2005
I Do, I Do, And I do, Too: A Modern-Age Ménage à Trois
by Anita Gates
Given that the subject of “Three of Hearts: A Postmodern Family” is a contemporary New York ménage à trois, the director, Susan Kaplan, and her executive producer, David Friedson, could have made an inane, smirky documentary.
But a significant development turned their film into a thought-provoking story. Steven Margolin and Sam Cagnina had been together for seven years when they invited Samantha Singh (a real beauty) into their relationship.
The film follows them as they shock people - at Mr. Cagnina’s 20-year high school reunion, for instance - and beam a little smugly about their superior form of happiness. People aren’t always that horrified, though. Mr. Cagnina’s father, who has a prison record, says, “It would have been worse news if you’d told me you wanted to be a cop.”
The three have a business (Dr. Margolin’s Wellness Spa) and two cute, traditionally delivered children. “Three of Hearts” does a good job of driving home the universality of their daily lives. Relocating their business is stressful. Making New York Magazine’s Best of New York issue (for best therapeutic massage) is thrilling.
Then, 13 years into their relationship, one of the three makes a surprising move, and everyone (including the audience) is forced to re-evaluate all that has gone before. There are lawyers involved.
