THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150033
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
THE TITLE may be ``Beautiful Girls'' but the center of the movie is a group of working-class guys who are having trouble settling down. They want to stay uncommitted as long as possible but, of course, they'd also like to have girlfriends.
For the most part, they are dateless and clueless.
This character-driven comedy-drama is filled with well-developed and easily recognizable characters. It is a bona fide original which takes what might have been stereotypes and surprises us with quirky little twists from beginning to end.
The scene is Knight's Ridge, Mass., a small town that is going nowhere and is taking its new generation with it. The only escapee who returns for the high school reunion is Timothy Hutton, the one who ran away to New York City. The closest he got to the big time is an occasional job as a lounge piano player. He's avoiding commitment to his lawyer girlfriend (Annabeth Gish), who will visit later in the week.
In the meantime, he's tempted by a 13-year-old worldly wise, neighbor who cracks wise and seems to know his inner thoughts. He seriously thinks about waiting around until she reaches legal age. The role is played by Natalie Portman, who completely steals this ensemble flick. Portman, who was so good in ``The Professional,'' is remarkably self-assured. She's totally believable as a budding beauty who is just beginning to realize the power she will have over men.
Matt Dillon is the town's former football hero, a lad whose promise never has been realized. Today, he has a job hauling snow. Sweet Mira Sorvino (a big Oscar contender for ``Mighty Aphrodite'') is his for the asking, but he's dallying on the side with Lauren Holly, his former high school sweetheart. Holly used to be the prom queen and a cheerleader, and she's never quite gotten over it. Now, she's married to a boring, but successful, yuppie. Holly brings wit and tease to a role that might have just been that of a villainess.
Michael Rapaport, that delightful actor who so easily suggests New York dumbness, is just as adept here at suggesting small-town dumbness. He's hilarious. His girlfriend, waitress Martha Plimpton, has just dumped him because he hasn't popped the question after seven years of dating. He'd rather dream about super models and paw over issues of Penthouse.
Rosie O'Donnell, in yet another repeat of her strong woman role, is the local beautician who listens to the women's love problems and puts the guys in their places. In one scene, she tells us about how guys waste their time dreaming about perfect female bodies while they should take what's available - and like it.
Some women in the audience cheered her speech. The men looked as if they had no idea what she was talking about.
Uma Thurman, the tall blonde, is a visiting beauty from Chicago whose presence stirs up all the guys.
``Beautiful Girls'' will be widely compared to such ensemble-bonding flicks as ``The Big Chill'' and ``Diner.'' It is as good, or better, than either. The script, complete with witty dialogue and human compassion, is supplied by Scott Rosenberg, a new Hollywood writer who worked with Norfolk's own Gary Fleder on the upcoming ``Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead.'' The quick-study characters here are worthy of comparison with Robert Altman's best of the genre, ``Nashville.''
Director Ted Demme (nephew of Oscar winner Jonathan Demme) manages to keep things sensible at the same time he captures the wackiness of folks who are facing the reality of turning 30.
This one is highly, highly recommended. ILLUSTRATION: MOVIE REVIEW
``Beautiful Girls''
Cast: Matt Dillon, Timothy Hutton, Uma Thurman, Lauren Holly,
Natalie Portman, Rosie O'Donnell, Michael Rapaport, Mia Sorvino,
Annabeth Gish, Noah Emmerich, Max Perlich, Sam Robards, David
Arquette
Director: Ted Demme
MPAA rating: R (language, sexual situations)
Mal's rating: ***1/2
Locations: Greenbrier 13 in Chesapeake; Janaf in Norfolk; Main
Gate, Lynnhaven 8 in Virginia Beach
by CNB