hyped garbage

best movie i've ever seen.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Start with the cast - wonderful. From Whoopi Goldberg, Mary Louise Parker, Drew Barrymore - that's just for starters - a solid cast. Each one holds her own and rounds out the character with humor, sensitivity and a truthfulness. The script - good solid script - the director - Herbert Ross - he knew how to tell a story. And don't forget the soundtrack - love the music!Add to that one of the first scripts that looked at AIDS from the eyes of women. Not just a straight woman, but also a gay woman. How the characters both men and women deal with the issue, which is usually for Hollywood and the motion picture world, a male issue (the only other film I can immediately refer to as an AIDS film relating to women is the HBO film GIA).I highly recommend the film for all audiences - including teenagers. It deals with many delicate issues with great warmth, love, trust, humor and truthfulness.Thank you for this little gem!

Largely a hit and miss comedy-drama, "Boys on the Side" is very melodramatic and not much better than a T.V. series. Helmer Herbert Ross again indulges the 'women's own pic', but this time he produces a movie not only nowhere near the calibre of his dramatically strong "Steel Magnolias", but also not even as interesting as the ordinary Ridley Scott road movie "Thelma and Louise" (there's a clever and apt reference to the ridiculous ending of that severely flawed film in this road movie). The girls in this flick have so many problems it's not funny, just mostly boring. Ross is unable to generate interest in the respective plights of Robin, Jane and Holly, and I for one was left hankering for a regular threesome who would stay on the road.The original screenplay from Don Roos attempts to tackle too many issues (murder, AIDS, single mothers and homosexuality to name a few), and in so doing fails to deal satisfactorily with any of them. Many of the relationship problems that arise are never properly dealt with or resolved. The show gets so weighed down with emotional baggage and unnecessary seriousness that what fun their is, gets lost in all the dreadfully morbid drudgery. Thus the comedy that does exist is drowned along with all the wild shenanigans. Add to this the fact that all the fellas are either schmucks or complete losers, and not only is it obvious the girls want to go it alone for a good reason, but it's also clear that this is an ordinary, forgettable film.Whoopi Goldberg has been infinitely better than this, and though both she and Mary Louise Parker (in a role similar to that in "Fried Green Tomatoes") are competent, we know they're both well below par here. As for Drew Barrymore, she still fails to show any of the promise she did as a young actress, and seems content to flaunt her bod. Though this may serve as a distraction for the men, her pretty looks are no substitute for raw talent, which she really needs to find before she is typecast.Like I said, this is very much hit and miss stuff, but more so the latter. "Boys on the Side" just never successfully influences the emotions, which "Steel Magnolias" did so easily with its quirky, lovable characters and simple theme.At least the trendy rock soundtrack which featured artists like The Cranberries and Annie Lennox saved some face.Saturday, August 5, 1995 - Waverley Pinewood Cinema

This film by The Sunshine Boys director Herbert Ross is quite a good drama with very small elements of comedy. Basically lesbian Jane (Whoopi Goldberg) is a night club singer, out of work. AIDS suffering Robin (Mary-Louise Parker) is a quirky real estate agent looking for a ride-share to accompany her to California, this is answered by at first unsure Jane. In Pittsburgh they pick up a third, one-night stand and man loving Holly (Drew Barrymore), escaping a violent and drug-dealing partner. It starts as a road trip, and focuses on reaching understanding, respect, and care for each other. I did trail off in a few places, but when I was paying attention, it was a very pleasant film. Good!

Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker and Drew Barrymore may initially sound like the casting idea if one wanted to make a film with some really strong miscasting. However, the chemistry between the three actresses works a little better than one might expect in this 1994 Warner Brothers release. It all has to do with the sometimes comedic and sometimes dramatic adventures of a lesbian singer (Goldberg) who's currently unemployed, her real estate agent new lover (Parker) and a drug addled friend (Barrymore) who leads them all on the run after she fatally assaults her abusive boyfriend. Through it all, they form an inseparable bond as they go on a cross country road trip to evade the cops. Not a classic by any means but worthwhile viewing.