REVIEW: "The Good Girl"

Millie · 08-31-2002, 12:42 PM

We've all seen -- or at least heard about -- it before: that crushing, spirit-squelching ennui that characterizes Middle American life. It's there everytime we pass through a small town, an inner-city ghetto, or even when we enter a Walmart. It's the latter store which director Miguel Arteta takes on as the focal point for his quirky, deeply dark comedy The Good Girl.

The Good Girl follows the empty lives of the clerks at "Retail Rodeo," most notably that of Justine Last (a frumped-up Jennifer Aniston). Justine, too intelligent and cynical for her surroundings, must deal with a soulless 9 - 5, a hopeless stoner husband, and no prospect for escape. None that is, until she comes across Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal) -- a quiet 22-year-old whose shy, yet mysterious manner intrigues her. Justine and Holden grow friendlier at work, until their 'friendship' culminates in an adulterous affair. With Holden, everything seems to make sense for Justine. Until, of course, the consequences of the affair come back to haunt her.

Aniston holds her own as Justine, while Gyllenhaal turns in a fairly by-the-numbers performance as the typical disaffected loner. And the plot, for what it's worth, falls somewhere between 'predictable' and 'I've seen this 100 times before.' Arteta's direction is standard-issue stuff, and perhaps ill suited to the richly satirical material with which he's working.

But the film's saving graces are its supporting characters. Zooey Deschanel, as delinquent retail worker Cheryl, enlivens the Retail Rodeo scenes with her cleverly foul-mouthed antics. John C. Reilly, who seems to have forged a career for himself playing lovable-loser types, shines as Justine's slow-witted husband Phil. Mike White (who wrote the film's screenplay, incidentally) portrays Corny, a freakish security guard with a penchant for Bible Studies. John Carroll Lynch plays Jack Field, Retail Rodeo's manager -- ever ready with a drop-dead hilarious announcement on the store's PA system.

Without these characters, the film would be a mere one-note meditation on a theme we know inside and out. With them, however, it becomes a delightful journey through working-class hell. It's a trip we're more than happy to take again.

Grade: B

Tea on tuesday · 08-31-2002, 06:44 PM

Saw this flick last tuesday, and I wasn't really impressed with it.

While I'll agree that the supporting actors are the film's saving grace....they just aren't enough.

John Reilly was excellent as always but his character was so bland.

Deschanel was prety funny and a very compelling character. I found myslef wishing I could skip through all the predictable plot so I could wtach more scenes with her.

I'd grade it a C+

Chumley · 08-31-2002, 11:18 PM

I thought Aniston had a very solid performance. Peel back the onion. You could just look into her eyes and see exactly what she was feeling.

As far as a plot, it was very bland and boring. I fell asleep at one point. Im really not a fan of chic flicks but I was dragged kicking and screaming by my wife.

I would rank this up there with The Devine Secrets of the Yahoo sisterhood. 2 hours better spent watching Football.

Iannis · 09-01-2002, 04:26 AM

I was thinking about seeing this, but i have to know...

Is her southern accent as bad as it comes off in the promo's? I mean, for anyone not living in the south maybe it wouldn't be a detractor... I dunno if i could sit through 2 hours of a poorly drawled accent.

After these reviews tho, I don't guess it matters. Probably one to rent, if I remember to.

08-31-2002, 12:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Millie More Adventurous Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,675	REVIEW: "The Good Girl" We've all seen -- or at least heard about -- it before: that crushing, spirit-squelching ennui that characterizes Middle American life. It's there everytime we pass through a small town, an inner-city ghetto, or even when we enter a Walmart. It's the latter store which director Miguel Arteta takes on as the focal point for his quirky, deeply dark comedy The Good Girl. The Good Girl follows the empty lives of the clerks at "Retail Rodeo," most notably that of Justine Last (a frumped-up Jennifer Aniston). Justine, too intelligent and cynical for her surroundings, must deal with a soulless 9 - 5, a hopeless stoner husband, and no prospect for escape. None that is, until she comes across Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal) -- a quiet 22-year-old whose shy, yet mysterious manner intrigues her. Justine and Holden grow friendlier at work, until their 'friendship' culminates in an adulterous affair. With Holden, everything seems to make sense for Justine. Until, of course, the consequences of the affair come back to haunt her. Aniston holds her own as Justine, while Gyllenhaal turns in a fairly by-the-numbers performance as the typical disaffected loner. And the plot, for what it's worth, falls somewhere between 'predictable' and 'I've seen this 100 times before.' Arteta's direction is standard-issue stuff, and perhaps ill suited to the richly satirical material with which he's working. But the film's saving graces are its supporting characters. Zooey Deschanel, as delinquent retail worker Cheryl, enlivens the Retail Rodeo scenes with her cleverly foul-mouthed antics. John C. Reilly, who seems to have forged a career for himself playing lovable-loser types, shines as Justine's slow-witted husband Phil. Mike White (who wrote the film's screenplay, incidentally) portrays Corny, a freakish security guard with a penchant for Bible Studies. John Carroll Lynch plays Jack Field, Retail Rodeo's manager -- ever ready with a drop-dead hilarious announcement on the store's PA system. Without these characters, the film would be a mere one-note meditation on a theme we know inside and out. With them, however, it becomes a delightful journey through working-class hell. It's a trip we're more than happy to take again. Grade: B __________________

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08-31-2002, 06:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tea on tuesday Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,419 +7 Internets	Saw this flick last tuesday, and I wasn't really impressed with it. While I'll agree that the supporting actors are the film's saving grace....they just aren't enough. John Reilly was excellent as always but his character was so bland. Deschanel was prety funny and a very compelling character. I found myslef wishing I could skip through all the predictable plot so I could wtach more scenes with her. I'd grade it a C+

08-31-2002, 11:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chumley Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3 -1 Internets	I thought Aniston had a very solid performance. Peel back the onion. You could just look into her eyes and see exactly what she was feeling. As far as a plot, it was very bland and boring. I fell asleep at one point. Im really not a fan of chic flicks but I was dragged kicking and screaming by my wife. I would rank this up there with The Devine Secrets of the Yahoo sisterhood. 2 hours better spent watching Football.

09-01-2002, 04:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Iannis Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Butt Hugging Moose Jockey Posts: 4,968 -1 Internets	I was thinking about seeing this, but i have to know... Is her southern accent as bad as it comes off in the promo's? I mean, for anyone not living in the south maybe it wouldn't be a detractor... I dunno if i could sit through 2 hours of a poorly drawled accent. After these reviews tho, I don't guess it matters. Probably one to rent, if I remember to.