Two Words, One Answer.
Heather Matarazzo
 Indie Sex: Teens $2.99 The Indie Sex series is very much like a VH-1 "I Remember the 80, 90's" programs. A series of commentators that talk about a film and then a clip of that film is shown. In these hour and five minute Indie Sex segments, this production gets tedious. Indie Sex: Censored, see a longer description. Teens is one of the decent segments in this series. The discussion is about how teenage sex is portrayed on film. It's a very wide range of films, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, to Catherine Breillat's Fat Girl. The discussion has no fears. The downside to all these segements, and this one in particular, the commentators are very unattractive. The two or three male film critics are particularly hard to watch. One younger critic had almost nothing interesting to add, he sounded more like he should comment on MTV or VH-1 trying to be funny or cute somehow. Dita Von Teese, a former playmate that attractive like a 50's pin up, is one of the more interesting guests. The film choices were excellent. Thirteen, Little Darlings, Fast Times, and Breakfast Club, Fat Girl, Romance, are all talked about. The clips are R rated and don't really push the NC-17 territory. Extremes is also a very good installment in this series.  Welcome to the Dollhouse $24.96 The underdog and star of the movie is Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo). Dawn is an awkward, unattractive 7th grader who is the school's underdog. Everyone picks on her for no reason - other than she does not fit in with the popular crowd. She has no friends her age. She is from a middle class Jewish family that lives in New Jersey. Her family is stable, with a dominant mother, kind but meek father, an aspiring older brother who wants to get into a good college as well as play in a rock band, and a doll of small sister, Missy (Daria Kalinina). We follow Dawn through the minefield of pre-teen junior high and family problems. She does not fit in with her family, with school or with boys. Her first crush is with Mark's new bandmember, Steve (Eric Mabius). He sees her only as Mark's little sister. Another boy her age is attracted to her but he has problems of his own. Between the two off-beat romances and her humiliations and anger issues her younger sister Missy is kidnapped. Missy is clearly the family's "baby doll" and the search brings forth Dawn's guilt in not relaying a message to missy before she left for ballet class. Missy is found and life goes on. Dawn is strong and accepting of her place in life for the time being. She looks forward to being in High School.  Cherry $9.98 Basic romantic comedy. Actually, I take that back, as the basic romantic comedy is usually bordering on horrendous piece of tripe. This one is enjoyable and worthy of repeated watchings; however, I can't be trusted. Because this movie provides one of the few opportunities to gaze upon the gorgeousness that is Isaach de Bankole without having to follow a distressing plot, I'm unable to be truly impartial here. It's this simple. If you like light-hearted rom coms that aren't overly schmaltzy, you'll probably like this one. |
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