Customer Reviews

Boys & Girls [VHS]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I am not in the target audience and did not expect to see this movie, just picked it up for my daughter. However, I found this film to be very good, especially the performance of Freddie Prinze (Ryan) and Clarie Forlani (Jennifer). The way they play the changes in feelings between them is well acted and interesting. The dance scene is outstanding and really puts you into the film. I purchased the film after renting it I enjoyed so much--not something I normally do.

Clarie provides an outgoing personality that plays very well with Freddie's quiet character who's feelings warm to a roast as the movie reaches its love scene. The final scene is the movie's peak and as well done as any I have enjoyed.

The first level of the movie is standard boy meets girl. But below the surface are two individuals that have many conflicting emotions. This was well played by Freddie when at a party he asks if his "sis" wants to leave. Claire, the sis, is involved with a guy and wants to stay. This scene shows how Freddie both wants her to follow, he rescued her from another guy earlier and subconsciencely hopes to do it again to be with him, and having to wait for her to really take notice of him and not knowing how to show her, since they are "just friends." He also turns down another girl at the same party before he trys his "rescue."

The other two main characters, Amy and Steve, contrast well against Ryan and Jennifer showing youth confusion on self identity in a way that lets you enjoy Ryan and Jennifer but not tire of their predictable growing relationship. (We know at the start what should happen by the end of the movie.) Amy and Steve also show in a "louder" way what it is like to find identity, something Ryan and Jennifer must do if they are to get together.

I enjoyed this movie for the acting, character chemistry, interesting use of a character bringing the audience into her experience (Jennifer's music man break-up) and the many emotions considered through out the film, and finally the fun the characters showed in trying to deal with their lifes together.

Misery loves company. I became addicted to this quirky, somewhat surreal romantic comedy when a long term relationship of mine ended. To watch Freddie Prinze Jr. and Claire Forlani as long-time friends navigate through the minefield of failed relationships and teen angst only to eventually consider getting together themselves seemed like the perfect anecdotal medecine to relieve what I was going through at that time. Yes, it's ultimately a funny and touching drama that taps into that need for comfortable feel good stories to put the sparkle back into life. Really, it bears more than a striking resemblance to WHEN HARRY MET SALLY in both structure and themes. (Is it a surprise they are both favorites of mine).
Ultimately my favorite part of the movie is the first half. The movie starts with a young Ryan and Jennifer meeting for the first time on a plane from New York to Los Angeles. Their encounter remains so memorable that five years later Ryan recognizes Jennifer during a football game. As luck would have it the two also eventually end up both in college at Berkeley and bump into each other in a series of When-Harry-Met-Sally-esque encounters over a number of years.
Prinze definitely plays against type here, he doesn't play a hotshot high school football star but instead Ryan is a difficult, unsure teen attempting to make his way through an engineering degree and Forlani is the confident, assured college girl who has no trouble getting dates, but is unable to maintain any long-term commitment.
Providing possibly his funniest performance is Jason Biggs (of American Pie fame) who plays Ryans college roommate Hunter (well that's not his real name but he feels it sounds better when picking up girls). From his introduction - getting stuck in a storage case to his eventual success in the girl department - his all too rare screen moments provide some great humor and lend a certain charm to the movie giving it an edge over the adult movie that so clearly inspired it.
I've seen this movie numerous times, its one of my guilty pleasures that speaks to me on so many levels.
Incidently if you have seen this movie on television the chances are that you have not seen it all. I have seen "Boys and Girls" shredded to bits on network tv.

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.

Sometimes movies have a tacked-on extra ending that runs simultaneously with the credits. This is such a movie, and I suspect I'm going to be considered a flake for admitting it, but I'm going to go ahead and and admit it anyway - That extra ending was the only reason I bought the DVD. Without it, I don't think I would have bought or even rented this movie in either format. The extra ending in this case is a hilarious dream sequence about flatulent supermodels. Without it, I'd rate this two stars at best. The main body of the movie is a romance between two characters (not appearing in the end dream sequence), played by on the one hand Claire Forlani, and on the other by either Freddy Prinze, Jr. or Chris Klein, I can't remember which. With me, it's funny about all three of those performers. I've liked Claire Forlani in some movies, especially in her show-stealing role in ANTITRUST. As for Freddy and Chris, I've liked them in several movies each and have no trouble telling them apart while watching them. But when I contemplate movies in retrospect, they tend to run together (this being by no means the first time). My trouble with the main story is that I just didn't find Claire Forlani's character substantially likeable. Most of the time I thought the guy deserved better and ought to break up with her. That made for a long and ponderous movie to see if he would. Seems a waste of talent, because Claire can play so much better. Neither effective romance nor effective madcap satire, her performance is trapped in a noperson's land in between. A friend of mine actually says that that's the real symbolic connection between the main body and tacked-on ending - That's the joke's on us if we thought it a seriously romantic picture. Instead, my friend says, the subtle message for those of us perceptive enough is that Forlani's character is like unpleasant backed-up flatulence, and the supermodels symbolize the beauty of it all finally passing on by way of the movie ending. Well, I don't want to go so far as to conclude that. Claire Forlani is clearly an actress with potential, and it's better to not quite compare any of her formative performances to trapped gas. But as for her particular character herein, it's hard not to call her a pain in the area brought to mind by that supposed symbolism.

I was iffy about this movie at first, since it looked like just another teen chick flick (Down To You, She's All That). But after watching it, I have to say I was wrong.so wrong in fact that I bought it on DVD. This is a great movie. Claire Forlani, whom I'd never seen before in any of her prior works, won my heart as Jennifer, any guy's perfect girl. And Freddie Prinze Jr., though his reputation preceded him, gave a stellar acting performance, except for a few minutes near the end where his monologue included such cliches as "Being with you was like going to a place I'd never been before." Scary, huh? Anyway, Jason Biggs accounted for the comedy as a wannabe lady's man searching for his own identity. A definite feel-good movie, best of it's kind.

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!

Well, I'm a 16 year old guy. That should say a lot right there. This isn't just a girl movie (or maybe I'm just sensitive). I don't know, this is one of those movies that you get stuck watching to it, but when it's over, you're so depressed because you wish your life would be like that. For me personally, I see a connection, because Freddie Prinze (Ryan) plays me so well - structured, smart, iron. Claire Forlani - she plays another person I happen to know. I bet you anything there's plenty of people out there who see a real connection to this movie, it's awesome, don't buy it, but definetely rent it.

P.S. For the guys, this is a good date movie, right up there with Down to You.

I loved this movie. While I'm older than the target audience, I was totally entertained. The dance scene was the highlight of the movie! My husband even enjoyed this movie and that's saying a lot since he only likes action/bloody movies.

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 like this movie, as I like every other teen movies! This is one movie out of thousond...maybe! But it's good. I like the caracters and the story is cute, funny and simple. A story there as well could be try. It's about normal teenagers going/ groying trough some difficult times. As every one else! I meen this movie i great and I would like to say to you: If you're some day are borred, then borrow this movie and see it with a good friend. I would!