Boys on the Side (1995)

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. Her advertisement is answered by Jane, who at first ... See full summary »

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Don Roos

Stars:

Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, Drew Barrymore

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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. Her advertisement is answered by Jane, who at first was uncertain about her. A stop in Pittsburgh picks up a third, Holly, escaping a violent and drug-dealing partner. Girls on the road, reaching understanding, respect, and care for each other. But this trio is different - Jane a lesbian, Robin suffering with AIDS, Holly running from her past, seeking one-night stands and a good man.

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Plot Keywords:

real estate agent | on the road | lesbian | singer | ups | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A proposito di donne

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$23,450,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcor Films, Canal+, Hera Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Jane & Robin first hit the road, (just after Robin appears saying "good morning"), the World Trade Center towers are briefly seen in the background as they are driving.

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Goofs

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. In French, "morte" means a woman is dead and "mort" is used when a man has died.

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Quotes

Holly: Did I hurt him?
Jane: What do you mean did you hurt him, you hit him with a bat!

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Connections

Features An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Keep On Growing"
Written by Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock
Performed by Sheryl Crow
Courtesy of A & M Records

User Reviews

Sooooo chick-flick

Count the chick-flick conventions: The revenge on the abusive boyfriend; the three so-different young women bonding; the mother-daughter conflicts; the road trip; the scene where somebody sings "Happy Birthday" to somebody amid much general rejoicing; the adorable baby; the tear-wringing incurable-disease character; etc. It's well-written -- Don Roos, who later wrote the superb screenplay to "The Opposite of Sex," puts more curve on his dialog than most toiling in this genre -- but as with many sisters-united-in-adversity epics, it keeps wanting to yank emotions out of you rather than earn them honestly. The three leads are good, a young Matthew McConnaughey isn't yet annoying, and there are nice turns from Estelle Parsons and Anita Gillette, a Broadway baby decades earlier who matured into a proficient character actress. But Herb Ross is in his take-no-chances mode, and too much of the picture feels programmed and rote.