10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Would you like some wine with that cheese?
Date of Review: Apr 23, 2002
The Bottom Line: Don't go see this movie. Funny but more annoying than anything.
Alright, so I was given advance screening passes to this movie last Tuesday. I had been wanting to see this movie, so I took my friend and we went to see it for free! Let's just say I'm glad I didn't waste my money on it.
When I saw the previews, I thought it might be kind of funny. It seemed like it was going to be a road trip with three funny girls, but the road trip must have taken at the most a quarter of the movie. So already at that level, it was not quite what I expected. I had heard that the script was being praised all over Hollywood when it was first being optioned. Apparently several studios were fighting over who got to develop it. To be honest, I would think the movie would not be as good on paper as it was on film, so I don't know what made anyone WANT this movie, as it pretty much sucked on film.
The best way I can describe the whole movie is like this: You know how you know funny people who can make you laugh? You love those people, especially when they don't have to try so hard. But then there are those people who try really hard to be funny, and at first they are. But then they just keep pushing it and pushing it. Then they're just plain annoying. This is the Sweetest Thing. That annoying person you can only stand for so long. And you can't stand them for the 80 plus minutes required by this movie.
The movie opened on a funny enough note. Someone is interviewing various men who have previously dated Christina Walters (Cameron Diaz). They describe Christina as a "player" and someone who is just not interested in a relationship. The men lament that she gives out wrong numbers, ignores them, and uses them. Several of the men are on the verge of becoming stalkers as they get emotional about Christina. One guy gets so heated talking about his lost love that his nose starts bleeding. Another one gets so tense and stressed, he pedals his stationary bicycle into the gym mirror. Many people in the theatre laughed in this area.
Then we get to meet Christina herself. We're supposed to know she's "hip and cool". Why? Well we already know she's a "player" and dates lots of guys. Plus the setting is San Francisco, and that crazy Christina, she DANCES up the hills!! She passes an older lady, who tells her to, "shake it if you got it!" Oh yeah and she uses her cell phone with the hands free head set. Talk about cutting edge.
Next it's Courtney played by Christina Applegate. Also a pretty blonde. The two shriek upon meeting in the street and head up to the house. There we see Jane (Selma Blair) crying because her boyfriend of almost one year (Oh my god, one year!!! They must have set a world record or something) just broke up with her. The girls decide to go out and have a good time.
They go out dancing at some club. Of course because they are so cool, they need not wait in line, but just walk on into the club. The girls meet and flirt with various men. Courtney meets up with a cute gentleman (a cameo by real life husband Jonathan Scahech) and exchange a very annoying "What's up?" "Not much, what's up with you?" routine. Selma meets a dumb, good looking jock, and proceeds to make out with him in the club. Christina first argues, then flirts with Peter (Thomas Jane) at the same club. Peter is in town for one last night of fun before his brother's wedding. They engage in some light banter and he invites Christina to a party later on. Christina chickens out and does not go. Annoying things to look for that the writer wants you think is actually funny: The what's up routine at the bar, bad dancing by some guys, Courtney getting felt up in the bathroom, guys looking into the women's bathroom.
The next morning Christina regrets not meeting up with Peter. She wishes she would have. Poor Christina... Diaz's *superb* acting really makes me feel sorry for her. Yeah, that's it. Christina and Courtney then decide to "surprise" take a road trip to go to Peter's brother's wedding. Annoying things... # 2: Glory Holes, maggotts, oral sex, dancing in underwear, a boutique with funny clothes, the list could go on and on here.
The rest of the movie is to show us the "development" of the three girls. They want to find real love, real relationships, blah, blah, blah. Christina tries to get to Peter. Courtney meets someone. She's dated him for three weeks and no sex!! Wow, I can't handle the maturity. Jane has some kinky sex with her boyfriend.
The rest of the movie, the cast is continually trying to gross out the audience. There are moments when this is just not necessary. The shock value is gone, and no one is amused. Through out the movie there are more Annoying things... (# 3) A cleaner licking semen, sex on the job, someone rubbing her crotch because she is sore, a penis stuck in a mouth. There's just too much more to write.
I think the biggest failing of this movie, was they were trying too hard. Movies are often based on fiction. But many of these things in the movie would never happen. One or two I could stand and let slide. But when Christina "happens" to sit on bench with Peter's face, church bells ring, the whole town happens to witness Jane's "accident" or when everyone and their priest show up at the dry cleaner's, it's just too too much.
Sure there's the whole "advancement of sexually liberated women" thing, but whatever happened to taking it one step at a time?
Don't waste your money on this movie at the theater. Heck, don't even rent it. You may save money, but you're still wasting your time.
