Review #30: Very Good Girls

Release Date: June 24, 2014
Writer: Naomi Foner
Director: Naomi Foner

Logline: Two New York City girls make a pact to lose their virginity during their first summer out of high school. When they both fall for the same street artist, the friends find their connection tested for the first time. (Source: IMDb) Drama, 91 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests

Review:

I just think Elizabeth Olsen is the greatest, but I hated her in this film. It may be unfair of me to judge an entire film based on my irritation at the handling of one character, but I don’t care – I’m doing it.

Very Good Girls follows best friends Gerry (Olsen) and Lily (Dakota Fanning) during their last summer together before Lily leaves for college. They pledge to lose their virginity in the coming months and then end up crushing on the same boy.

The boy, David (Boyd Holbrook), is pretty standard when it comes to boring dream guys – he’s good looking, reads poetry, takes pictures. He’s also sort of a creepy stalker which further confuses me as to why they both are so into him, but to each their own I guess.

The conflict arises when David pursues Lily instead of Gerry. Gerry continues to obsess over him totally unaware of the fact that Lily is hooking up with him. It’s the same old story of friends letting a boy come between their friendship; unfortunately the film doesn't freshen this concept up enough to make it overly compelling.

While this is happening, each girl is dealing with her own family drama. Lily’s parents work through infidelity while Gerry’s family deals with a death – I think these additions are supposed to add complexity to the characters and situations but they end up being clutter in the narrative.

The second hand embarrassment I felt as Gerry talked about David incessantly was almost too much to bear.  I hated how annoying and pathetic she was and it pretty much ruined the whole movie for me. 

There are some great outfits and nice performances but none are good enough to make up for a relatively boring story and a rather forgettable overall experience.

Portrayal of Women: At first glance, Gerry seems like the strong-willed confident one while Lily appears to be passive and unsure. David's presence serves as a construct to reveal Gerry's inner insecurities and Lily's assertiveness.

I love the idea of a coming-of-age film being about two girls and what it's like to transitions from high school to college. Gerry and Lily are navigating their way and it's interesting to get a woman's perspective of what friendship is like at that time in a person's life.

There is also some interesting material to be found in Lily's mother who has just found out her husband has cheated on her.

Sisterhood Moment: The girls have obviously been close for a long time. When they are upset, they turn to each other - sisters at heart.

Rating: 2 and half Sylvia Plath poems out of 5.

IMDb - Very Good Girls (6.3)
Wikipedia - Very Good Girls
Rotten Tomatoes - Very Good Girls