Review of Some Girls (1988) by Eric H — 16 Apr 2014

One line summary: A fine comedy about a duck out of water with an eccentric family.

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Gabriella invites Michael to spend Christmas with the family in Quebec City. This includes the mother and father, plus sisters Simone and Irenka, and Irenka's boyfriend Nick.

Michael runs afoul of just about everything. Gabriella tells him she is no longer in love with him. Gabriella's mother is a fairly strict Catholic who believes in avoiding sex before marriage. The family dog does not seem to like him.

In a sub-thread, the grandmother is ill, and periodically escapes from the hospital to be with her dead husband at their previous home. While looking for Granny, Michael falls down a shaft. Granny discovers him, and they go back to where Granny lived with her husband, also named Michael.

Michael gets a second round of this when the others go skiing, Nick goes for petrol, and Michael thinks he's alone with her. Michael finds Granny's long missing 'summer shoes.' When he tries to present her with them, he finds that Granny has gone to yet another house.

On the way back to the hospital, Granny's health plummets. Nick and Michael don't quite get her back in time. The funeral was held before Christmas. Nick leaves after the viewing. At Christmas, things are a bit somber. Michael meets (yes, mysterious) Young Granny at the family tomb.

Michael has farewell discussions before he goes home.

------Scores------.

Cinematography: 10/10 Professional presentation, start to finish.

Sound: 9/10 The actors were properly miked, and most of the incidental music was well-chosen.

Acting: 8/10 Patrick Dempsey was brilliant, as were Lila Kedrova, Andre Gregory, Florinda Bolkan, and Sanna Vraa. Jennifer Connelly was hard to recognise, and was more irritating than anything else.

Screenplay: 8/10 Clever and mature.