Customer Reviews

Boys and Girls

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Teen Comedies Just Got A Lot Stupider...

As we all know, any teen comedies made in the 90s, or for that matter, ANY teen comedies ever made, that are not directed by John Hughes and/or star Molly Ringwald are mindless pieces of teenage drivel. And this time, it stars Freddie Prinze, Jr. And the fact that a 'Breakfast Club' poster is hidden in the background doesn't help it in any way possible.
The plot, and by 'plot', I mean recycled material from other teen movies, revolves around nerd Ryan (Prinze, Jr.) and hottie/free spirit Jennifer (Claire Forlani, of 'Mallrats' fame), both in their mid and late twenties, try to pass off as teenagers who keep meeting each other year after year and apparently hate each other, or whatever their poor acting skills were trying to prove.
Anyhoo, they start college, where Fred's girlfriend (played by goddess Alyson Hannigan, who does a better job at playing a geek than Prinzey boy) coincidentally leaves for Seattle, and is never seen again for the rest of the movie. Since Fred has glasses, he's defined as a 'nerd', and, by teen movie standards, his roommate has to be a geekishly wacky slacker-poindexter, the complete opposite of the other roomie. Jason Biggs (who was smart enough to choose Alyson Hannigan over Shannon Elizabeth in 'American Pie 2', unlike Prinzey boy, who would much rather have an American-accented Claire Forlani) nails the role of a dorky loser with dead-on perfection.
Since the two characters are teenage hearttrobs and they meet each other, we all know that they're gonna fall in love. And since this is a PG-13 movie, nothing good is shown, with the exception of a goatee Freddie Prinze, Jr. has in one scene that looks a lot like pubic hair. The plot just sort of lost me after that, because my brain was dribbling out my ears after I saw a choreographed dance sequence take place in the middle of the movie. But we all know how it's gonna end: they're all gonna live happily ever after...until the next teen movie they're in, if you can call two thirty year olds playing teenagers a teen movie.
Overall, this movie [is bad]: the horrible soundtrack, Claire Forlani's teenager with liver spots, Amanda Detmer as a whiny[...], Freddie Prinze, Jr., a horrible plot, horrible acting... God, I hate this movie. I couldn't even come up with witty comments for this movie, it's scarred me so badly. Ergh. The only thing that makes this movie good is Alyson Hannigan, and she's only in it for three seconds. If you've seen a teen movie, you don't need to see this movie. And despite what Claire Forlani says, Susan Sarandon does NOT have the best [...], or at least not in 1983.

Love,
Muttz!

I well remember, and well liked, FP Jr.'s father, and his TV series "Chico and the Man." A while back, I saw FP, Jr. being interviewed on a talk show, and I thought he came across as so down-to-earth, charming, and cute as can be. But I was totally unfamiliar with his work as an actor.

I finally got around to renting this movie, and thought it was very enjoyable. Similar to "When Harry Met Sally....," but of course no where nearly as great as that classic, superlative film. But still quite pleasant. Leonard Maltin, with whom I usually agree, rated this movie BOMB -- he is absolutely, unequivocally WRONG.

However, after renting ths movie, I did rent FP, Jr.'s "She's All That," and "Head Over Heels." Maltin liked those movies better than "Boys and Girls," but again, he is WRONG -- those two were the bombs, unfortunately. In fact, despite FP, Jr.'s enjoyable screen presence, they were virtually unwatchable.

"Boys and Girls" is a lovely movie (a bit of a weak performance by Forlani was a bit of a drawback, but the rest of the cast was very good, and so was the writing, and the direction).

I feel certain you will enjoy the lovely "Boys and Girls."

This Movie is The Best! The Best Scene is the Scene in the Nightclub to "Stop The Rock" By Apollo 440. Freddie Prinze Jr. is hot in it and Claire Forlani is keeping it real. Funny clip at the end with Jason Biggs. Buy before you rent! It Totally Rocks!

Should you be yourself, or smooth out the rough edges? What about opposites? After many bad endings, how do you know if love is going to be worth the trouble?

Jennifer & Ryan are pre-teens when they meet. Jennifer is being very forward, discussing the implications of her period. Ryan is a geek, trying to plan everything, who doesn't think Jennifer is his type, and pushes her away. As the plane takes off, he is afraid of flying. I actually missed this symbolism, but something at the end of the movie reminds you of it.

For the next 5 or so years, and dozens of chance meetings, this scenario repeats until the viewer can hardly stand it. Ryan will not pick up on Jenny's advances. For contrast, his roomate works entirely too hard at meeting girls. Does Ryan play it too straight and careful? Is Jenny too slutty? Is her roomate gay? There are lots of interesting angles and subplots, exaggerated so you don't have to be a genius to pick them up, which I find helpful. :)

For the next 3 years Ryan & Jenny are best friends. Then something complicated happens, involving all four characters (including Jenny's roomate). No, not group sex, it's not that kind of movie, but some strange things, and I will try not to give awayany more .

What do you get when you cross Eric Rohmer (director of French "talkie" films about the early stages of relationships, in fact he made one called "Boyfriends and Girlfriends") with Jane Austen (early 19th century author of carefully plotted romances, e.g. the award winning "Sense & Sensibility")? You get something like "Boys & Girls." Unfortunately, it is the only movie in this vein that Robert Isgrove directed.

Ultra-feminists will not like the ending. Everyone else will. A few people will not like the way the flashbacks are done, but it is not overdone. Audio track is selectable for English or French (suggesting Isgrove was possibly aware he was making an intellectual French-style movie, albeit the ending is very American rom-com). Subtitles can be had in Spanisn or English (for the hearing impaired). Lots of previews of other similar movies on the DVD, but no info about cast, director or "making of." Decent pop soundtrack.

As long as your expectation is reasonable (it's not quite as silly and cute as a teen comedy - they meet only once in high school years, most of the action is in college, and they do sometimes pass up parties to hit the books), you should enjoy the movie.

Freddy and Claire have many interesting scenes together. From being on a plane together, to falling in love in college, the comedy never ends. Freddie is the tag-along friend as Claire has many boyfriends. Biggs thinks that he's using claire as a "fake girlfriend". I don't want to reveal too much, but it's a good comedy and u should check it out!

I have to admit the fact that I dreaded watching this movie.I thought for sure that it would be a mindless teen movie.I was wrong.In all fairness,my niece made me watch it with her pestering.I am,however,glad that she did.I found this to be a highly entertaning and enjoyable movie.I was very pleased with the story,the acting,and the characters.I went into this film fully expecting to hate it and found that I really liked it.Give this movie a chance,even if you are sure you won't like it.This is a well acted and directed movie with a good story and cast.I highly recommend it.

I begged my friend to go see this movie with me and she demanded I buy her dinner later that night. Why? Because I dragged her a film that SUCKED. The ill-fated attempt to be sentimental and romantic bombed, as well as the no-name actors (ex. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Alyson Hannigan). Even Heather Donahue from "The Blair Witch Project" was in this movie. The first ten minutes was somewhat humorous, I hated it. I did like Claire Forlani...now, FORGET ABOUT IT.

I'm a big Claire Forlani fan, but I shall try to give this film an unbiased review, based solely on its merits as a romantic comedy.

I love this film, especially because Claire Forlani is in it.

Well, that didn't work.

Actually, I can be more objective.

This film does not work as a comedy--it really shines, though, as a romance. The story features a shy, untrusting fellow who meets an outgoing young lady, and it takes them four years or so to end up together. It's clear to me that we are to notice that the Ryan character is attracted to Jennifer much earlier than she ever begins to feel that way about him. But he could never convince himself that he rates this sort of woman, so he lives in denial throughout his college years. Meanwhile, her story seems to be that she relies on him for many of the best things in her life, but any attraction beyond friendship is deep, deep in the subconscious. Or, putting it simply: she does not know that she is in love with him. *SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Once this is read as the underpinning of each and every scene they share, there is much more subtlety to the dialogue, or even things that don't get said, than might otherwise be noticed. The level of detail that exists within the dynamic of these two people suggests that the writer went through something like this.

The most telling scenes:

Early in the film, when the two characters first meet as adolescents, they do not get along; they trade insults, but when she calls him "Ugly!", he does not reciprocate. He certainly could, even as a lie. But he does not. He already thinks of her as beautiful, and is not willing to call her "Ugly!". This sets the power-structure between them right from the start, only to be slightly shifted back the other way when she has become quite dependent on his company, and he can remind her that she has called him "Ugly!". She tries to recant.

Much later, Jennifer is friends with Ryan, though they have their tiffs, partly due to a strange chemistry neither will admit to. Jennifer goes out on dates with various fellas who catch her eye, but one scene starts with Ryan answering a call from her, where she begs him to come rescue her from a date from hell, by posing as her anguished brother, arriving to report a family tragedy. Ryan balks, suggesting she get someone else to perform this task. Another hint at the power-plays in their friendship. Ryan does not immediately leap to her assistance, but is sufficiently under her spell to give in and help her out. It is strongly indicated that Jennifer and Ryan then go out and have a better time together than Jennifer would have had with the other fellow. But again, she does not seem to consciously realize what is happening to her.

When Jennifer and Ryan actually go out dancing together, they have another surprisingly good time. Later, outside her apartment, she goes so far as to invite Ryan upstairs. Caught off guard, Ryan hesitates. This invitation does not necessarily mean that she was planning to finally spend the night with him. But, consider: once the issue of Ryan going upstairs with Jennifer has been shelved, it gets mysteriously re-opened again by Jennifer herself, when one of Ryan's best friends happens by on the street. When this friend inquires what's up, Jennifer says: "Well, I invited Ryan upstairs, but he's going home to bed.". This is an interesting bit of needling on Jennifer's part. A beautiful woman, she has obviously felt frustration at his rejection of her offer, and is really making the entire offer over again, this time in public, with an element of pressure to the offer!!

This is the tenor of this charming film. Slowly Jennifer begins to recognize what is happening inside her. Regarding Ryan, one of the best scenes is when Jennifer, who is becoming more frustrated than even she will admit, accuses Ryan of using her as a substitute girlfriend, who hides from other women. This is a turning point, because in a few casual remarks, Jennifer has hit the nail on the head. But she has done it in a callous and dangerous manner, putting Ryan on the spot. He takes a crazy risk, but it demonstrates his inner character: he says that if what she says is true, then maybe they better not see each other any more. Risky, because this could herald their permanent separation, but Ryan instinctively knows that he is not the only one who has a few things to admit.

I enjoyed this film a lot for its depiction of two people trying to discover how they really feel about each other.

My husband and I watched this movie and laughed the whole way through it! The careful wit behind Ryan and Claire's flirty banter is nothing less than outstanding. Jason Biggs is once again outragous as a supporting actor. The soundtrack is incredible as well. The drive behind the music keeps the movie upbeat and fun. We loved it!

I thought this was going to be another normal teen flick, and it mostly was, but it was surprisingly a little better than most. I mean its not deep, but it was interesting. The dancing scene was absolutely awesome!