Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Mary-Louise Parker is phenomenal as the pill-popping neurotic realtor that puts in a classified ad for a traveling comanion on her trek to the west coast. The one who answers her ad is a dred-lock-wearing black lesbian (played masterfully by Whoopi Goldberg)... and both are a little startled by each other and how contrasting their lives are. Parker is slightly horrified that her traveling companion is gay and Goldberg is very horrified that she's going to be trapped in a car for over a week with this psycho, anal woman.
Goldberg's character makes a quick diversion to visit a friend (Drew Barrymore) and a crazy turn of events puts Barrymore in the van with Goldberg and Parker.
The three of them all have skeletons in their closets and all sorts of emotional baggage that they have not dealt with, much less shared with anyone else. This dynamic mix of diverse personalities is first a cauldron of irritation, frustration and prejudices, but together the women face some crazy circumstances that bring them together.
It turns out they all have much more in common than they realized. There are very touching scenes where only the most stone-hearted individual will not feel a crack in their throat... and there are scenes that will make you laugh so hard, you might just lose bladder control.
Themes include family, loyalty, race, bigotry, domestic violence, unrequited love, romance, loss, terminal illness and death. This may seem like a lot of themes for just one movie, but the film is so real, you feel like you're one of the girls in the van, hanging out with them. They become your friends and you quickly bond with them. The film was directed by Herbert Ross who is known for directing "Steel Magnolias." This film is just as powerful, if not more so.
My less than perfect rating is due to the lack of extras on the DVD. How about interviews with the director and the cast? Trailers? Music video of the Indigo Girls (they had cameos in this film)? It is very unfortunate that no effort was made to make this a DVD worthwhile getting in lieu of VHS.
In spite of the DVD's shortcomings, the film itself is fantastic and I recommend it highly. Domestic violence, mature themes and language make this not suitable for kids.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Boys on the Side (1995)
THREE WOMEN, A CLUB MUSICIAN, A DEMURE REAL ESTATE AGENT AND AFLAKY DRUG-DEALER'S GIRLFRIEND, MAKE A BREAK WITH THEIR PASTS AND FORM AN UNLIKELY FAMILY WHILE TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRYTOGETHER.
Click here for more information about Boys on the Side (1995)
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