Very Good Girls

Review: I wasn't that impressed with this dull chick flick about 2 friends who fancy the same man. The two teenagers are desperate to lose there virginity and whilst walking on the beach, they bump into the ice cream boy who they both find quite attractive. One of the girls tries her utmost to get the boys attention while the other girl uses the shy approach. I found the movie quite slow and boring in parts. The acting wasn't that great but I liked the chemistry between the two girls. The director tried to add family elements to try and make it more interesting but I struggled to stay awake. The boy, played by Boyd Holbrook, seemed a bit useless and he kept on popping into to scenes, out of the blue. You also didn't know anything about the boys history so he seemed like a bit of a shady character. Anyway, I didn't really enjoy this film that much but I'm sure that there are many ladies that will get emotional whilst watching it. Unimpressed! Round-Up: Dakota Fanning really had a promising start to her career with movies like Man On Fire, War Of The World's and I Am Sam, but her choice of projects has been her downfall. Movies like Effie Gray, Night Moves and The Motel Life, haven't been that great and it doesn't look like she has anything interesting in the pipeline. Maybe she peaked to early! Her best friend, played by Elizabeth Olsen, is in the new Avengers movie and she also starred in Captain America, Oldboy and Godzilla so she can't complain about her career so far. The problem is that I can't remember seeing her face in any of those movies so she couldn't have made a big impact. Personally I think that she is the best thing in this movie, even though Demi Moore, Richard Dreyfuss, Ellen Barkin and Clark Gregg have cameo roles but they weren't in the movie that much. I recommend this movie to people who are into their emotional dramas about 2 best friends who fancy the same boy. 3/10

In one word: pretentious! I don't know why every screen writer thinks that only screwed up people deserve to be the focus of a story or that they are the only ones troubled by the challenges and hardships of life; it's banal, predictable and trite. I also do not understand why depth of character in movies is inextricably linked to quiet, antisocial, weird or quirky characters that exist in the outskirts of society, preferably with an artistic streak. There was a lot of still frame so that the focus was on the characters and a discrete music carpet which I'm guessing was to convey the characters' emotional turmoil or something...but the thing is that the characters' weren't strong enough for all this. Fanning's character was very unlikable. Her relationship with David wasn't very convincing, nor was her friendship with Olsen's character. No matter how good Fanning is she can't carry an entire movie by herself (and she wasn't very good in this one) and while Elizabeth Olsen's acting was amazing she wasn't given enough screen time. Fanning's portrayal of Lilly was so stiff. She was like an emotionless doll for the most time, and when she reacted I couldn't understand or relate. Why was Lilly so angry and distant with her mother? I didn't see her do anything wrong. Why didn't she even try to support or understand her? Why was Lilly so close with her father? How come she forgave him his transgression just like that? It felt like Lilly had lost her grip with reality, especially when she was mad because her father was trying to resolve his marital problems with his wife instead of doing as his daughter asked. She was lying and misleading her best friend and she was petty and vengeful with David. There is nothing great about this character and Fanning's portrayal of her was like she was dead inside. Seriously, it was scary. Olsen was amazing though!! She did an ingratiate job with Gerri!! Loved her to bits and I hope she was more in the movie. Olsen is scary good with character driven parts. Another problem with this movie was the dialog. It was scarce and weak. In a movie where there is no action, no complicated plot or twists but it's all about a person's journey it feels like there should have been stronger dialog.

Lilly (Dakota Fanning) and Gerri (Elizabeth Olsen) are two best friends on their last summer before college. They meet David (Boyd Holbrook) selling ice cream at the beach who takes Lilly's picture as they walk away. Lilly catches her father cheating with one of his patients. Gerri is infatuated with David. Lilly also likes David but she can't tell Gerri. Lilly works on a ferry tour under the lecherous eyes of her boss Fitzsimmons (Peter Sarsgaard). I want to like this movie for the two leads. There is just something unoriginal and outdated about this movie. In fact, I thought this is a period piece at first. The writing is so uninspired. Naomi Foner is the writer and director. I don't really have any big problems with her directions. It looks fine especially for her debut. The writing doesn't have anything compelling to say. The story meanders. There is a tired feel about everything in this movie. This should be a better coming-of-age movie for two skilled actresses. The story throws a lot of stuff on the screen but nothing actually sticks.

This movie is something, alright. It takes the most worn-out, done-to-death, predictable, stale, unimaginative elements from the many other tedious indie dramas that I've suffered through, reheats them, and tries to serve them as fresh. No dice, kiddo. Only this isn't just a case of mouldy leftovers. No, this is pure, unadulterated, 100% ****. Guaranteed to grow your garden, or your money back. You'd have to go a long way to find something as soulless, brainless, meritless and charmless as this. And by the end, I couldn't care less. The first thing you should know is, in a SHOCKING twist, the 'very nice' girls in the title are actually pretty badly behaved. In fact, the first thing we see them do is have a skinny dip. On a crowded beach. Gee, I hope those body doubles got paid well. On their bikes during the journey home, one of them collides into a hunky ice cream man. A neon sign flashes: LOVE INTEREST above his head. He is very rude to one of them. Within a few days, they'll be having sex. Despite what the director would like us to believe, with the addition of syrupy softly-sung ballads in the background whenever the duo get within a few feet of each other, there's more chemistry in gym class than there is between these two non-entities. I almost instantly plugged that her new beau was a STRUGGLING ARTIST, who only sold his diary treats to finance his TRUE CALLING. Ya know what? I was RIGHT ON THE NOSE!! You, see... He takes pictures of people, photocopies them into huge portraits, then sticks them on walls, the backs of buses, etc. This of course, is complete rubbish... without any artistic vision, or otherwise... But you have to remember this film is based in a parallel universe, where all bounds of normal human reaction and values are completely at odds with reality. So, needless to say, his new girl finds it 'CUTE', and he's a 'GENIUS'. Say no more. Speaking of her, at one point she starts strumming a guitar. And I was on the edge of my seat... Waiting for those three magic words... "OPEN MIKE NIGHT". ZING!! I did it again!! Perhaps I should pick up a crystal ball, and start calling myself Madame Zorro. She also has confidence issues, and I suppose you would... Performing in front of ten people. But don't worry... her new flame gives her the strength she needs to brave the throngs. Her voice is very ordinary... But like I said, these events transpire in an alternate dimension, so we're listening to the new Madonna. SIGN HER UP!! Richard Dreyfuss and Demi Moore drop by for an easy pay cheque... There's some kind of love rivalry going on between the two bimbos for the heart of Mr Interesting... and a bit of fractious family feuding thrown in to pad out the length. But all of this twaddle can be summed up by simply saying 'Dead Air'. It's not worth the time it takes to watch. It wasn't worth the time to type this review. In fact, it's barely worth the time it takes to put the disc in the machine. In other words: Do something better with your life. Like, anything. 2/10

Yes, I have. We all have. Two regurgitated caricatures of the stereotypical American teenage girl, Lily and Gerry are sooooooo different yet so alike. Both fall in love with the same part shady stalker, part brooding troubled artiste~ who wants to travel the world but his list of places to visit is, like, "Rome... (d-uh)Paris..." Daddy issues are, of course, played up wonderfully, because what is any worthy female teenage protagonist if not the product of her father's neglect? What possibly can one expect when the preppy rich teenage daughter of a straight-laced household made up of detached parents and siblings goes to her dad's office to ask him to get through with this patient already they're getting late for dinn- *gasp* and henceforth a series of incredibly stupid decisions are made by two girls we initially assume to be a lot smarter, wittier, braver and mature than they turn out to be. Every trick in the book for a deep and wholesome young-woman-coming-of-age film is not simply used, but abused in the most blatant schticky manner possible; I promise you, there is more than one cameo made by Sylvia Plath. This film is a true example of lazy filmmaking in an industry where ~gratuitous-yet-modest~ sex scenes and summertime virginity pacts are more important than honest *portrayals* let alone discussions about teenage turmoil and female sexuality. Not even that awkwardly long shot of Dakota Fanning kinda-sorta running-jogging could redeem this movie. Don't watch it. You've already seen it. And you've seen better.

source: Very Good Girls

Why would such a strong cast go for such a non-event script - trite dialogue, plain and even ridiculous plot? Except for Elizabeth Olsen, who appears to enjoy her role in a very natural believable way, the rest looked like they were dragged into it, and had to just hum reluctantly along with some 'forced acting'. Dakota Fanning is especially out-of-it, the first time I've seen her dazed and uncomfortable in a role she played in a very zombie manner - it was a total miscast at any rate. She needs a meatier role to be able to sink her teeth into. A simple lost youth in a silly lost script she is not, one as a virgin notwitshtanding. It is a B-grade movie with an A-grade cast. What a waste! I hope it's just a bad fluke for all concerned, and not because good roles in good movies are drying out for them.

First off, if you read the description and expected this movie to not be cliche then that is your own fault. Obviously there have been movies made before with the same content as this one, but I think the actresses in this one made it their own unique movie. I've never been a fan of Dakota Fanning until this movie, actually. I think it was very cute and a good testament to how much a good friendship can withstand. I'd watch again.

I thought this movie was great, it's a good chick flick with sad moments and happy moments in it. This movie was full a great performances mainly by Dakota Fanning. I was surprised about the bad ratings people said about this movie, the movie is average but that doesn't mean it's bad its a good movie to watch with one of your girl-friends that like chick flicks or something that is nice to watch on your own. I highly recommend watching this movie of coming of age girls in New York city who want to lose there virginity over the summer before going into college, I find this movie very interesting that can put tears in your eyes and a smile on your face!

In one word: pretentious! I don't know why every screen writer thinks that only screwed up people deserve to be the focus of a story or that they are the only ones troubled by the challenges and hardships of life; it's banal, predictable and trite. I also do not understand why depth of character in movies is inextricably linked to quiet, antisocial, weird or quirky characters that exist in the outskirts of society, preferably with an artistic streak. There was a lot of still frame so that the focus was on the characters and a discrete music carpet which I'm guessing was to convey the characters' emotional turmoil or something...but the thing is that the characters' weren't strong enough for all this. Fanning's character was very unlikable. Her relationship with David wasn't very convincing, nor was her friendship with Olsen's character. No matter how good Fanning is she can't carry an entire movie by herself (and she wasn't very good in this one) and while Elizabeth Olsen's acting was amazing she wasn't given enough screen time. Fanning's portrayal of Lilly was so stiff. She was like an emotionless doll for the most time, and when she reacted I couldn't understand or relate. Why was Lilly so angry and distant with her mother? I didn't see her do anything wrong. Why didn't she even try to support or understand her? Why was Lilly so close with her father? How come she forgave him his transgression just like that? It felt like Lilly had lost her grip with reality, especially when she was mad because her father was trying to resolve his marital problems with his wife instead of doing as his daughter asked. She was lying and misleading her best friend and she was petty and vengeful with David. There is nothing great about this character and Fanning's portrayal of her was like she was dead inside. Seriously, it was scary. Olsen was amazing though!! She did an ingratiate job with Gerri!! Loved her to bits and I hope she was more in the movie. Olsen is scary good with character driven parts. Another problem with this movie was the dialog. It was scarce and weak. In a movie where there is no action, no complicated plot or twists but it's all about a person's journey it feels like there should have been stronger dialog.