Beautiful Girls (1996)

 Love my movie
I'v been looking for this hard to find movie for awhile. I love it. Delivery was fast. Perfect transaction February 13, 2008

 A comical and insightful jaunt
Beautiful Girls is a very light-hearted comedy about a small town class reunion. It does hover dangerously close to some dark, abstract notions that frequently threaten the overall good vibes. That makes the movie entertaining and realistic. Luckily it teeters on the positive side and never falters at any point.
It's directed by Ted Demme(Blow)and it won a CEC award for Best Screenplay. Its completely filled with clever dialogue. At times it might seem a little glib, but it covers its tracks with responses from it's characters, like when one says "you stay awake nights thinking up this (stuff)".
Many of the characters do fall into stereotypes, but this is inconsequential because it doesn't feel forced. Everyone has their odd little quirks that make them unusual and interesting.
Matt Dillon is great in a typecast role as the kinda shady womanizer. Michael Rappaport is awesome as his annoying buddy. Timothy Hutton is the one guy who realizes he doesn't need a drastic change. And a young Natalie Portman steals the show as the "little neighborhood Lolita".
There are many scenes with buddies drinking, saying stupid stuff, drooling over beautiful girls. Almost all the guy's dreams seem somewhat quixotic.
I think this is one of the most underrated comedies ever. I always feel better after watching it.
April 15, 2007

 Willie C! Stay cool! Stay cool forever
One of the best and a collectible & worth watching the movie for just this part
"Supermodels are beautiful girls, Will. A beautiful girl can make you dizzy, like you've been drinking Jack and Coke all morning. Se can make you feel high with the single greatest commodity known to man--promise. Promise of a better day. Promise of a greater hope. Promise of a new tomorrow. This particular aura can be found in the gaze of a beautiful girl. In her smile, in her soul, how she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like it's going to be okay. The supermodels are bottled promise. A beautiful girl is all powerful, and that's as good as love" April 11, 2007

 I beg to differ (a little)
This is a fine film. The characters are older young adults, barely young enough to be able to characterize this as a "rite-of-passage" film. I disagree with those who suggest that the characters ultimately give up on the dreams of their youth and "settle" for an inevitable and dull adulthood. From my 58 year old vantage point, they are leaving their shallow and immature adolescence for the deeper and more meaningful commitments to mature, real (not mythologized) partners who love them for who they are. They are ready to embrace their lives both present and future and let go of the ever more distant and irrelevant past.
The Hutton character is certainly tempted by Thurman. Though he admires and cares for the 13 yr old Portman character, he is always aware that her desire for him will not be returned by him. He relates to her impatience to grow up, recognizes her puppylove feelings for him, but never considers abusing her affection for him.
This is a wonderful ensemble cast. Though more polished than its predecessor, this film reminds me of the early John Sayles film "Return Of The Secaucus Seven". November 15, 2006

 Willie and Marty
This movie is about the growing relationship between a surprised, smitten Willie and beautiful girl Marty. It's all we care about. Everything else is window dressing to these two. October 8, 2006

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