7 Girlfriends

This movie was about a man's search to find out what he is doing wrong in his relationships with women. This subject is intriguing because all of us men want to know how to keep that special woman in our lives. Although the answers were not really found and the film was not all that revelatory, I still got a chuckle seeing Tim Daly trying to sort through his mistakes and find out what went wrong. A good supporting cast helped the movie move along smoothly, and I must admit there are some very beautiful women in this film which made me stick around until the end. Overall, a good film, especially for men, who would like to put themselves in another guy's shoes to see how one man tries to improve his relations with the opposite sex.

"Seven Girlfriends" is an unusually fresh and creative light comedy centered on one man and the many women in his life, past and present. The flick is technically and artistically a journeyman effort with a solid distaff which trods gently upon its humble protagonist. A little herky-jerky with lots of flash backing, "Seven..." is full of surprises with little to fault. A good video watch for guys and gals in the mood for a light hearted comedy which celebrates the foibles of heterosexual relationships.

This movie made me feel good. It is not a masterpiece but still it has an over all quality as entertainment that runs the risk to be overseen. It deals with the most common angst of true love. Love problems have an impact on our daily life. This movie deals with many of the problems but in a shallow, American, Hollywood style. So what? The acting is on a basic level as the directing but… I never had a feeling that any one in the movie was in lack of genuine acting skills. They did a fine job and there is a lot more to give from all of the main actors. This movie is an example of easy to digest motion picture art form as entertainment suitable for any one to take part of.

Viewers looking for a fun, easy-going film are likely to be wary of selecting a small-budget independent film. Will it be too "arty?" Too obscure? Just plain lousy? At a screening I recently attended, Paul Lazarus, the director of Seven Girlfriends, noted that this film was consciously produced to be a commercial movie: accessible and enjoyable. On both counts, it succeeds admirably.

Tim Daly is charming as Jesse, the protagonist who is so frustrated with unsuccessful relationships that he decides to seek out, one by one, each his ex-girlfriends and figure out what went wrong. Laura Leighton is a pleasure, too, as the most meaningful of Jesse's loves, despite spending the majority of her screen time in flashbacks. Melora Hardin has a somewhat smaller role, but she shines while onscreen, making each of her scenes count. And yes, that's really her singing. All in all, despite a lack of marquee names, nary a weak performance is to be found.

The film is by no means a masterpiece, nor it does it ever aspire to be one. Yes, there are themes of maturity, loss, and forgiveness, and all these are treated respectfully and tenderly, but they never weigh down upon the energy and sweetness that the movie exudes. There is a wonderful blend of true emotional significance, clever plot surprises, and outright hilarious scenes.

Some "been-there-done-that's" pop into the film from time to time, and it's true that Seven Girlfriends won't change your life or leave you deeply moved. But as romantic comedies go, it far outclasses most of the lifeless schlock churned out by bigger studios. It will take you on a delightful ride, perhaps toss a few insights your way, and leave you with a smile on your face.

Okay, maybe the name Tim Daly would scare you off from watching this movie, but trust me. This movie is so much better than all of Jennifer Aniston's and David Schwimmer's movies combined. This movie is cleverly written and full of a series of surprising and comical twists and turns.

The cast may not be your typical movie picks. Yet Paul Lazzarus wrote and directed this movie well. Tim Daly was surprisingly good as Jesse, a 32 year old bachelor whose former-fiance dies, and he tracks down his former girlfriends to find out where he went wrong. And believe me, when you see this movie, his girl trouble turns out to be more than just bad luck.

Some of the most hilarious scenes come when his answering machine messages get saved by one of his girlfriends, and a certain scene with another one of his former girlfriends' daughter. I can't tell you the specifics of these scenes, but I guarantee you, it will be funny.

The acting is done very well, the script is well written, and this is in no way like High Fidelity. It may not have exactly gotten "Titanic" advertising, but it is a must-see. See it when you get the chance.