The Good Girl (2002)

A discount store clerk strikes up an affair with a stock boy who considers himself the incarnation of Holden Caulfield.

Director:

Miguel Arteta

Writer:

Mike White

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal, Deborah Rush

5 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Justine Last
Deborah Rush	...	Gwen Jackson
Mike White	...	Corny
John Carroll Lynch	...	Jack Field, Your Store Manager
Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Holden Worther
Zooey Deschanel	...	Cheryl
John C. Reilly	...	Phil Last
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Bubba
Jacquie Barnbrook	...	Heavy Set Woman
Annie O'Donnell	...	Haggard Woman
John Doe	...	Mr. Worther
Roxanne Hart	...	Mrs. Worther
Jon Shere	...	Lester (as Jonathan Shere)
Alice Amter	...	Big Haired Woman
Jean Rhodes	...	Old Woman

Storyline

The plot revolves around a young married woman whose mundane life takes a turn for the worse when she strikes up a passionate and illicit affair with an oddball discount-store stock boy who thinks he's Holden Caulfield.

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Plot Keywords:

misandry | male full frontal nudity | trying to conceive | marijuana | dysfunctional marriage | 

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Taglines:

It's her last best chance... is she going to take it?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, some language and drug content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The end credits give special thanks to actor Danny DeVito and to director Spike Jonze.

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Goofs

The stubble on Holden's face changes pattern and length when he is talking to Justine in the storeroom.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Justine: As a girl you see the world as a giant candy store filled with sweet candy and such. But one day you look around and you see a prison and you're on death row. You wanna run or scream or cry but something's locking you up. Are the other folks cows chewing cud until the hour comes when their heads roll? Or are they just keeping quiet like you, planning their escape.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to The Arteta Family and The Greenfield Family.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: 2012 Teachers Tournament Quarterfinal Game 2 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Ride Ride
(1971)
Written by Anne Briggs
Performed by Gillian Welch

User Reviews

thoughtful slice of life

Years ago I had a conversation with some young guy who worked on the loading docks. He was frustrated by his life, felt inarticulate and incapable of escaping his plight or of really doing anything with his life. He had the wish but not the talent to express himself through art and felt he had nothing to look forward to. I thought of him while watching The Good Girl, a movie about a very ordinary person trapped in a hum drum existence.

I've noticed some discussion in these reviews as to whether The Good Girl is a comedy or drama, and I would suggest people stop trying to label the movie. The Good Girl clearly isn't trying to be either, but simply a movie that captures the life of someone who feels trapped, portraying both the drama and comedy inherent in life. It's a small, studied, intelligently written movie that's well worth watching. Don't worry about what it is, just watch it and take it the way you take life, not as a comedy or drama but just as what it is.

Details

Country:

USA Germany Netherlands

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Good Girl

Filming Locations:

2790 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$151,642, 11 August 2002

Gross USA:

$14,018,296

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,860,964

Company Credits

Production Co:

Flan de Coco Films, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Hungry Eye Lowland Pictures B.V.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1