Review of Material Girls (2006) by Marissa L — 21 Dec 2011

Despite being a hardcore Hilary Duff fan for about 2.5 years, I somehow missed this movie when it came out. When I saw it on the cheap at a yard sale, I decided to pick it up; I figured it would be easy, lighthearted entertainment for car trips.

I started it about a month or so ago, and finished it tonight; you may think I wouldn't remember what happened during my first viewing, but not only do I not find any entertainment forgettable, this movie didn't have anything close to a convoluted plot.

So, what did I think of the actual movie? It was good in some ways, and not in others. The plot was cute, and the ending was a bit of a surprise. The actors did a great job, and it was awesome to see "Star Trek: The Next Generation" alum Brent Spiner play someone/something other than Data the humanoid android.

However, a higher use of profanity than I was expecting, as well as some crude remarks and immodest outfits, threw some serious grime into the mix. One scene where Hilary Duff's character attempts to seduce a night watchman, and is thought to be a prostitute because of her skimpy outfit, was quite egregious for a film of this nature.

For those reasons, I couldn't recommend this to anyone under ten, no matter how much he/she likes "Lizzie McGuire". Even for older moviegoers, this is something that is only worth a rental; unless you're a die-hard fan of one or both of the Duff sisters, or "Addams Family" star Anjelica Hutson, this probably isn't something you'll pop in again and again.

In short: If you're over ten and looking for a cutesy, silly comedy/mystery that doesn't involve a murder, then this one is for you.