BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Ah, Yeah, Beautiful Girls
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1996 Michael John Legeros
Directed by Ted Demme
Written by Scott Rosenberg
Cast Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Michael Rapaport, Max
Perlich, Lauren Holly, Natalie Portman, Uma Thurman,
Rosie O'Donnell, Martha Plimpton, Mira Sorvino,
Annabeth Gish
MPAA Rating "R" (presumably for language)
Running Time 108 minutes
Reviewed Six Forks Station Cinemas, Raleigh, NC (11FEB96)
==
The tag line on the poster read "the best date movie of the '90's" and, so, I was expecting YACF (Yet Another Chick Flick) for my Sunday matinee. Imagine my surprise, then, upon discovering that BEAUTIFUL GIRLS is actually a *guys* movie. (Yet Another Dick Flick?) Beauty, and the male illusion thereof, is the subject of this often-funny ensemble comedy from director Ted Demme (THE REF). Matt Dillon, Michael Rapaport, and Max Perlich are the sad sack snowplow operators of Knight's Ridge, "MA", who wax poetic on the subjects of marriage ("the Big Fade"), models ("bottled dreams"), and the brotherhood of men ("never let them see the little man behind the curtain"). The Fourth Musketeer is Willie (Timothy Hutton), an old school chum who has return- ed on the eve of their 10-year reunion, to ponder the future of a girl- friend Back Home.
Balancing the boys club is an appealing cast of ladies/victims, which includes Annabeth Gish, Martha Plimpton, and Mira Sorvino. Rosie O'Donnell is also on hand, as a Greek Chorus of wisdom who delivers a side-splitting monologue on the grim realities of "real women." But, alas, even the luminous Uma Thurman-- as somebody's cousin-- can't compete with the charms of 14-year-old Natalie Portman (HEAT, THE PROFESSIONAL). She's a scene-stealer as the too-smart, too-young neighbor that Hutton inevitably develops a crush on. [ And thank goodness it's platonic! I'd hate to break any laws by describing anything otherwise! ]
I'm not sure how women will react to this movie. As an ensemble comedy, it's okay; the momentum comes and goes, as do the laughs. The big cast is underused, but they have their moments, such as an amusing barroom rendition of "Sweet Caroline" with Hutton and Perlich at the piano. Most viewers will react favorably, though, to the faux happy endings-- there seem to be about four of them-- which give the appear- ance of resolution and are the likely reasons why somebody labeled this a "date movie." Don't you be fooled-- the endings are just as phony as what we saw in WAITING TO EXHALE.
Writer Scott Rosenberg makes a critical error by letting too many of the male characters *exhibit* the very behaviors that they (and the film) are attempting to reflect upon. Pining for a high-school sweetheart is one thing; committing adultery is another. Getting away from your girlfriend to think things over is fine; getting away to get drunk or get laid is something else entirely. So, guys, go see BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. Take a date, laugh in recognition, and continue to think that real people actually get *rewarded* for such behaviors. The rest of us will be working very hard toward living happily ever after, in the meantime.
Grade: B-
--
Mike Legeros - Raleigh, NC
legeros@nando.net (h) - legeros@unx.sas.com (w)
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