Girl Play

GIRL PLAY is a vibrant, smart, hilarious, and unsentimental love story about two stage actors, Robin Greenspan and Lacie Harmon, cast as the leads in a romantic play. The women come fully equipped with compelling reasons why their falling in love with each other is simply not an option: Robin lives with her life partner in a clearly defined world, replete with Post-it reminders and insurance policies, and Lacie has recently come to embrace her commitment-phobia in full. But when their eccentric stage director (played to perfection by Dom Deluise) insists at rehearsals that the two women experience one electrifying and vulnerable moment after another, their chemistry has no place to go but up.

For all kinds of reasons, these two should not fall in love, and yet we all know where this story is going. But we don't know what fresh, unexpected, and delightful trouble it will trigger; nor whether these women will actually overcome their obstacles and make it – especially given Robin's terror at the mere possibility of hurting and disappointing her live-in girlfriend. The fear takes her back to the dread-filled moments that led to her coming out to her provincial mother (flawlessly played by Mink Stole). And Lacie clings to her independence after she revisits her most recent unbearably awkward, horror-show-down breakup with a demi-semi-steady.

The story unfolds beautifully, mixing narrative and direct-address narration. Because the writing, acting, direction, and editing are so incredibly deft, this hybrid means of story-telling and story-showing works beautifully. It reminds me of High Fidelity in that seamless way of mixing narrative, direct address, and flashbacks.

Mink Stole and Dom Deloise might have stolen the movie, had Robin Greenspan and Lacie Harmon not given such strong and appealing performances. Forgive the reductive Hollywood-ese of this analysis, but Robin Greenspan's hilarious neurotic practicality is young-Woody-Allen good, and Lacie Harmon's hilarious wry cynicism is young-Bruce-Willis sexy! What's more, these two leading ladies also wrote the movie. What's more than THAT…the movie is based on their true story. What's not to love!?

Hey everyone, I just saw this fantastic film at Melb Queer Film Festival last night. Definitely my pick for best film. I loved the music, but forgot to write down the name of the female singer who sung most of the original songs on the soundtrack.

I found it eerie and beautiful the way the story captured so much of how it feels to be me, how several of the conversations held between the characters are exact replicas of conversations I've had, exact replications of feelings I've had.

Well worth seeing, heck I want to see it again! Does anyone know if this will be available on DVD in Australia any time soon?

Cheers

I saw this movie at OutFest in Los Angeles and I have to say as one of the few straight white males in the audience I couldn't have been more involved in the "characters" (in quotes since the movie is based on the actresses' life stories) and their stories. The filmmakers have done such a fantastic job of bringing these women's life stories to 'life' on the big screen in a compelling and hysterical way.

I found myself laughing uncontrollably at the situations these women find and get themselves into. But, I was also really impressed at how I was able to relate to their lives and saw similarities to things in my own life. It's pretty amazing that no matter what your race, gender or sexual preference there are moments and things we all go through.

But, no matter how poignant and real the story was the most important thing for me was how funny it was. Lacie and Robin's situations and stories are just FUNNY AS HELL and the scenes with Dom DeLuise and his assistant are some of the funniest moments I've seen in a movie theater in a long while. Not to give anything away but the scene with Robin and her mom (played terrifically by Mink Stole) was not only real and but absolutely hilarious.

I was completely captivated and really loved this movie from start to finish. I can't wait til it comes out in theaters so I can see it again.

Whoever the "independent critic" was who fawned over this flick and cracked on someone who panned it, they obviously had relationship issues. No relationship, hon??? From a "guy" point of view, this movie is like a "chick flick" on Drano. Imagine all the elements of a whiny, "Joy Luck Club", estrogen-overdose, and then add in grating, abrasive and utterly uninteresting griping (directly into the camera, no less) about one's "partner". There is a gratuitous girl-on-girl scene or two, but the leads are mannish, adult tomboys trying oh-so-desperately to act and sound like street-cool, arty types, with bodies like limp tube-socks, so any appeal from a strictly hedonistic perspective is devoid of any turn-on.

I will give it kudos for having the guts to be a bit more realistic in it's physical portrayal of lesbians. Unlike some "lesbian" films (which are little more than soft-core porn for gawking guys) where the women are super-models or Pam Anderson types, the women in this movie reflect a more accurate image of the "average" lesbian. With the exception of one character, the women in this film are of average, or below-average looks, blue-collar body types, and clothing styles like an unmade bed. Mannerisms and body language are truer to form as well, mostly devoid of feminine overtones.

Unless you have a burning desire to see the irritating details of a lesbian relationship on the rocks, skip this movie and watch Lost and Delirious instead. Though the women in Lost and Delirious aren't as realistically lesbian "looking", they're waaaaay easier on the eyes, the story is much more interesting (and actually quite touching), and the characters are people you'll actually care about.

I have to agree with those who believe that the 'good' reviews here come from relatives, friends and colleagues of the women who made this. What I can't understand is why these two real-life women thought their love story was interesting enough to write a play, and then a movie about it. It was like listening to proud parents talk about their gorgeous baby (the one WE know looks like a frog) for 80 minutes. The leads are irritating: Robin (constantly pouting) delivers her lines as though she's performing a high school English oral, whereas Lacy seems to lead with her huge jaw (and drag her knuckles on the ground). The music and flash-backs are as cheesy as they get. The tell-rather-than-show narration does not translate well from the stage, but more importantly, the characters do NOTHING to endear themselves to the viewer. I just didn't CARE. I kept watching only because I'd paid to rent the damn film, but in hindsight that's 80 minutes of my life I can't get back. In short: you know how your best friend spends two hours on the phone telling you (without stopping for breaths) just how greatandsplendidandgorgeousandneat her new girlfriend is? That's what this movie is like. Be warned.