Romy and Michele: In the Beginning

This is not your typical ABC Family movie. The jokes are surprisingly raw.

I'm surprised I enjoyed this movie so much. So before anyone judges my tastes, I'd like to explain how this movie is one of the first to focus on a "meta" world.

Yes, the gags are sit-com like. And yes, the plot is incredibly predictable, but this is the movie Romy and Michele would make if they could make a movie. It really celebrates a more upbeat optimistic view of the "Hollywood Dream." And is washed with so much color and patent characters of THAT specific era. I really like they captured a bygone era of these post- teen comedies. Where, in any other world, they'd be in deep trouble.

It's not to say that they are completely clueless. They make some really dark innuendos to how often they have sex, who they would have sex with (living or dead), sex changes...basically all the archetypes of what most people think Hollywood is about. Which (now working in Hollywood myself) isn't that big of a stretch. They run into self-important publicists. a VERY narcissistic model, Clubs they're under/over dressed for, next door neighbors who they think are gay. For those in the industry, it's a toybox of your first time here. But in Romy & Michele's case, seen through a sunnier view.

What, I think, a lot of cynics will criticize is how stupid the concept it. The same that would embrace "Dumb & Dumber." That's the point, Romy & Michele live in this very bizarre world that if they are positive, positive things will happen. If you don't believe in "The Secret" (personally I think it's garbage), then this will annoy you to no end. I found it hilarious how their tunnel vision keeps them going on their adventures, whether you think them to be idiots or not. They A) don't seem to care what you think or B) just don't know.

Isn't refreshing to have that type of freedom in life?

It's rudimentary, to be sure, but on a slow night, it's actually a fun watch.

The movie gets four stars for the wonderful interpretation of Lisa Kudrow by Heigl. Immediately at the film's beginning the audience sees how magnificently she does the voice and facial expressions of her predecessor.

Which would have been enough to give the movie ten stars if it wasn't for the small fact Katherine Heigl is supposed to be playing the part of Mira Sorvino. I thought for a moment I had just mixed up the names from my memories of the previous movie, but no: now that I'm checking this site, I see it was the movie's mistake. They either didn't notice it or didn't care. Whichever is unforgivable.

I'd give the whole thing zero if Heigl hadn't been perfect in her portrayal of at least somebody.

My theory is that someone had a script for a bad comedy about two girls moving into a big city lying around on his desk and while there was nothing else to do, they simply chose to use the script as it is and borrow a name from a well known movie to attract at least some viewers. This would explain all the anachronisms, mixed up names, the long time period between the movies and the fact that the movie is only very distantly connected to the original Romy and Michele movie.

Even so, the movie is not all bad. I'm not saying it is not bad, because it really is. But it's not all bad. The two lead actresses do a fine job, and so does Kelly Brook. Not really going for an Oscar there, but I've seen a lot worse. As far as for the script goes, there's not even a one tiny drop of originality in it but I guess one can't expect that from this type of comedy. As a whole the movie is a cute little comedy which is not particularly entertaining but does not cause a severe headache either.

We have Katherine Heigl, playing the role of Romy White. Alex Breckenridge plays the role of Michelle Weinberger. Ms. Hiegl is a tall blond doing a credible Lisa Kudrow impression. Ms. Breckenridge is a somewhat shorter brunette, doing a credible Mira Sorvino impression.

Trouble is, Lisa Kudrow, the tall blond in the original, plays the role of Michelle Weinberger. Mira Sorvino, who is a somewhat shorter brunette (there's a conversation about how great she looks with dark roots), plays the role of Romy White.

Anyone else notice this? I find it odd that so many of the same people were involved, but that the actresses are clearly playing to the wrong character. I taped this off AMC and had to watch for most of the film before realizing what was bothering me.

Well... this is a crap and I must start by this, because it's true.

This is one of those movies that only exists to destroy an original and brilliant idea that Romy & Michele was even people not understanding its potentials so much and then not giving great ratings as it really deserved and still deserves.

I always knew that this movies was bad, and that's why I never care to watch it. But yesterday, visiting a friend of mine, I had to watch it because he was, and you know... it was impossible not underrate it while my poor friend seemed to be loving it. All the time I felt the need to explain to him that the original one is so much better that he would keep it in his mind as one of the best comedy movies he would ever seen... but at the same time I thought by myself: "Well, think about it. If he seems to be loving this huge piece of $#!%, probably he would not understand a half of what Romy & Michele really means". Also, I brought with me Welcome To The Dollhouse, because it was a movie that he was curious about after saying so much about it to him. So I thought by myself again: "I can't believe that he seems to be loving this huge piece of $#!% while I have in my hands one of the finest thing about comedy that I've ever seen". And then... like a bolt sent from heaven, he said: "lets watch this one you brought... seems more interesting". Well, of course it is!

Romy & Michele: The Beginning, is the worst movie I've ever seen. So awful that all Friday The 13th series seems really great. OK, it's a movie made for television so it doesn't care so much for quality, but it's not an excuse for a so horrible taste.

The great thing about the original Romy & Michele are, of course, the actresses. Mira and Lisa are so perfect in their roles and their chemistry are stunning. Then you have all that nostalgic thing about the 80's, and an amazing script with extremely funny and intelligent dialogs. You have none of that in this one.

So, here's my advice. Do not waste your time on this one for your mental sake. I'm wasting my time writing all of this because I want you to know that I'm meaning it: IT'S AWFUL!!!