Lover Girl

I came across this title on cable one night and noticed that it was produced by Allison Anders, who directed a couple interesting movies in the early 90's, and featured Tara Subkoff from "All Over Me" and a really interesting supporting cast including Sandra Bernhart (in a rare film role), Susan Tyrell, Kristi Swanson, and Renee Humphrey. It isn't really a good movie--parts of it are rather implausible and the end is pretty disappointing--but it has a strange and interesting feel to it. It lacks the heightened drama and rigid three-act structure of a typical Hollywood movie. It's very subtle and surprisingly non-exploitative, especially considering it's sordid subject matter. Yet it isn't some arty,pretentious feminist claptrap either(like the overrated "Working Girls" a few years earlier). It seems to somehow be more "real" than your typical movie. It contains real characters (albeit in a pretty unusual situation) whose lives don't really seem to going anywhere in particular and whose problems you know are not going to be resolved after two hours. It kind of reminded me of "Ghost World" (the comic book more than the movie). It's probably not a real easy movie to find, but it's definitely worth finding.

I will admit that this movie managed to hold my attention in a way that many admittedly better movies have not. Reason? There just aren't that many hooker comedies that skirt the subject of sex the way this one does. That struck me as novel while I was watching it and made me think the filmmakers were attempting something more ambitious than the usual chortling over sex. Tara Subkoff is very watchable and likable as a gangly, awkward young prostie wannabe. She has the unique ability to project awkwardness, emotional need and immaturity, mix it up and have it come out something like bohemian cool. I got a lot of insight into a whole generation of disaffected youth watching this flick. Cool, indeed.

Considering the controversial subject matter, this movie is a little too light to tackle these issues efficiently.

Nevertheless, the performances are good and it never gets too boring, but with a bit more work (and courage) at the screenplay level this could've been something more.

Oh well. 5/10

The thing that attracted me to this film in the first place is its star Tara Subkoff who has had mostly small supporting roles throughout her career. With the exception of her co-starring role in the film "All Over Me" this is her biggest part to date and she is a rather fascinating young actress to watch. The scene in which she splashes water over her face in the bathroom while Land Of The Loops' Multi Family Garage Sale plays in the background shows how beautiful her performance is without her even having to utter one word. She has an amazing presence that keeps this somewhat shaky film watchable. The soundtrack though somewhat quirky at times is really important to the overall tone the filmakers are trying to capture. If you like indie music and Tara Subkoff then this is a must see.

16-year-old Jake Ferrari (Tara Subkoff) needs a place to stay after her mother left again. She tracks down her older sister Darlene (Kristy Swanson) in L.A. who hasn't seen her in a decade. Darlene refuses to take her in but neighbor Marci (Sandra Bernhard) does. Marci manages a massage parlor and Jake gets a job there.

This has a fitting amount of grim. The low budget indie fits the low class establishment. Mostly, I like the actresses although this isn't much of a drama. Subkoff has a slacker, low intensity waif persona. Swanson injects a good amount of mean spirit. I don't buy the ending. The owner would never fire all the girls but at least the movie wraps up quickly. Tension is never that high and it needed to end.