Its subject is nominally daring, but in spite of that, For Keeps proceeds with an amazing degree of caution.

The moments between Ringwald and Batinkoff are well-written and played with a quiet, touching sensitivity; we recognize elements of real life in their relationship.

The result is essentially the pilot for a sentimentally sweet TV sitcom machine-tooled for the current craze of baby-boom movies.

A dreary television-movie-of-the-week drama, far beneath the considerable talents of the mostly gifted cast.