Hard to Hold is a 1984 musical drama film directed by Larry Peerce.

It was meant as a starring vehicle for Rick Springfield, who had a solid television acting resume and a blossoming rock-pop career, but had yet to break out in feature films.

He meets child psychologist Diana Lawson in a car accident; however, she has never heard of him and doesn't swoon at his attention.

He tries to win her affection, but complicating things is his ex-lover, Nicky Nides, who remains a member of his band.

Springfield had been performing music and acting for over a decade when his career went to a new level in the 1980s, due to a successful run of singles and a popular role on General Hospital.

But he is a marvelous, talented, well-trained young man with a wonderful sense of comedy - and sexy as hell....

[9] Janet Maslin of the New York Times found the film an exercise in narcissistic excess: Dripping sweat, with the backstage lights glinting off his jeweled belt and his single earring, James Roberts escapes to his dressing room, collapsing beside the Space Invaders machine.

It's not a movie for anyone else, except perhaps film students, who will find that Larry Peerce has included more weak transitions, conversational clichés, unflattering camera angles and ethnic restaurant scenes in this film's mere 93 minutes than some directors manage in an entire career.

[10]Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune had a similar sentiment: It's too bad something different didn't happen in "Hard to Hold," something right out of that old Mad magazine feature "Scenes We'd Like to See."

Then, just when she is having second thoughts about him, he gives up chasing her and rededicates himself to his old girlfriend, to solving her drug problem and to writing beautiful music with her.