Review of Beautiful Girls (1996) by Catherine D — 15 Nov 2009

On the eve of their high school reunion, a group of buddies gets together to re-live old times. Willie (Timothy Hutton) is the one who left town to struggle along as a jazz pianist in the big city, and is now being pressured by his lawyer girlfriend Tracy (Annabeth Gish) to commit, which drives him to consider a flirtation with the precocious 13-year-old girl next door, Marty (Natalie Portman). Tommy (Matt Dillon) was the big star in high school, still caught in a triangle with his current girlfriend Sharon (Mira Sorvino) and his married high-school sweetheart Darien (Lauren Holly). Moe (Noah Emmerich) is the one who settled early, married, and had kids. Paul (Michael Rapaport) would never settle for anything less than a supermodel, or so he says after his girlfriend Jan (Martha Plimpton) leaves him after seven years together. Andera (Uma Thurman) is the outsider, visiting from Chicago and filling the titular role of the ultimate Beautiful Girl, in the process changing the way each of the guys thinks about their own relationships.

This film sets a new bar for ensemble casts. Nearly all the actors are even more famous 13 years out than they were at the time, and all are excellent at disappearing into their roles rather than accentuating that they're celebrities. Even Rosie O'Donnell and David Arquette pop up in small roles. Not only is the acting superb, but the writing is witty and unexpected, the music fitting, and the direction well-paced and showcasing the small-town feeling. The only detractor is that with so many characters and stories, we get only glimpses of each, which leaves holes in many of the plotlines.

Overall, a surprisingly deep, enjoyable, quirky, and only slightly dated ensemble piece about facing your past, getting older, growing up, and appreciating the value of a beautiful girl.