Boys on the Side (1995)

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer (WGA):

Don Roos (written by)

Release Date:

3 February 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A motion picture that celebrates the art of survival, the gift of laughter and the miracle of friendship.

Plot:

Jane is a night club singer, out of work. Robin is a quirky real estate agent looking for a ride-share to accompany her to California...

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | AIDS | Road | Childbirth | Pregnant Prisoner

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Jane
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Robin
Drew Barrymore	...	Holly
Matthew McConaughey	...	Abe
James Remar	...	Alex
Billy Wirth	...	Nick
Anita Gillette	...	Elaine
Dennis Boutsikaris	...	Massarelli
Estelle Parsons	...	Louise
Amy Aquino	...	Anna
Stan Egi	...	Henry
Stephen Gevedon	...	Johnny Figgis / Jane's Band
Amy Ray	...	Indigo Girl
Emily Saliers	...	Indigo Girl
Jude Ciccolella	...	Jerry

Also Known As:

Avec ou sans hommes (France)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Bendix Diner - Route 17 and Williams Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Alcor Films

Trivia:

As the part of Holly hadn't been cast, Whoopi Goldberg suggested her close personal friend, Drew Barrymore. The two have been friends since Barrymore visited the set of The Color Purple (1985) in 1985.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Robin is trying to inform Holly that her boyfriend is dead she writes "MORTE" on the window and tells it is French for dead. French for dead is "mort". Nevertheless, "Morte" means "Death" in Italian.

Quotes:

Jane: No, we're not taking drug money on the road with us. Put it back.
Holly: Well, it's not like you can tell by looking at it.
Jane: OK, you have a point: we'll just take half, all right? And we are not taking drugs on the road with us, either. So give them back.
[Holly returns the stash]
Jane: Thank you.
Holly: You're welcome.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ken Adam: Designing Bond (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

Shame, Shame, Shame

A bore

This film is about the friendship of three women who goes onto a road trip, after an accident that goes horribly wrong.

I find the film incredibly plain and dull. The characters are not likable, and I do not care much for them. Holly, in particular, is annoying and stupid. The domestic violence part gains her some sympathy, but confessing it to the wrong person is plain silly. As a result, the plot becomes contrived. The way the story is told is plain, with almost no emotional ups and downs. The only thing that holds my interest is Robin's illness, but even that is not so well developed. Her condition could have been a lot more dramatic and touching, but the whole subplot fails to engage or captivate. In short, I find "Boys on the Side" boring. I can only say I am not the target audience of this film.