Even by the low standards of the genre it represents, this female teen comedy represents a new nadir.
Directed by Martha Coolidge, falling a long way from the similarly themed "Valley Girl" and co-starring sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff in their first screen pairing, "Material Girls" is the sort of witless, cynical exercise that future generations will point to as example of our society's vapidity. Having opened Friday without press screenings, naturally, the film will reach a certain percentage of its target audience, though anyone older than 16 or with Y chromosomes won't bother.
The plot, for those who care, revolves around spoiled rich siblings Ava (Haylie) and Tanzie (Hilary), who are the "faces" of their late father's cosmetics company.
Other than their modeling duties, the girls are content to spend their time instant messaging, talking on their cell phones and pampering themselves in every conceivable way.
But they are forced to abandon their complacency when the company is accused of disfiguring its customers. Attempting to prevent the business from falling into the hands of an archrival (Anjelica Huston, the latest of many Oscar winners who should be forced to return her statue for appearing in projects like this), the girls -- inspired by a glimpse of "Erin Brockovich" on television -- spring into investigative action.
While such films as "Legally Blonde" and "Clueless" have mined rich merriment from the travails of spoiled brats, "Material Girls" isn't in their league, let alone the same ballpark. Indeed, the lead characters, who whine about having gone "from Tiffany to Target in one single night" and plaintively ask, "Where's a spa when you need one?" are two of the most annoying figures seen onscreen in recent years.
Huston somehow manages to maintain her dignity, and Brent Spiner livens things up a little bit as an unctuous exec. Lukas Haas displays a nice understated quality as a love interest, while such performers as Maria Conchito Alonso, Obba Babatunde and Faith Prince are utterly wasted.
As for the Duff sisters, well, their work here only inspires hope that their 15-minute clock has started ticking.
Material Girls
MGM Pictures
A Maverick Films/Rafter H Entertainment production in association with Patriot Pictures Llc., Milton Kim Prods. and Concept Entertainment
Credits:
Director: Martha Coolidge
Screenwriters: John Quaintance, Amy Rardin, Jessica O'Toole
Producers: Susan Duff, Eve LaDue, David Faigenblum, Milton Kim, Mark Morgan, Guy Oseary
Executive producers: Tim Wesley, Michael Mendelsohn
Director of photography: Johnny E. Jensen
Production designer: James Spencer
Editor: Steven Cohen
Costume designer: Van B. Ramsey
Cast:
Tanzie Marchetta: Hilary Duff
Ava: Haylie Duff
Fabiella: Anjelica Huston
Tommy: Brent Spiner
Inez: Maria Conchita Alonso
Henry: Lukas Haas
Rick: Marcus Coloma
Craig: Obba Babatunde
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 99 minutes...
Directed by Martha Coolidge, falling a long way from the similarly themed "Valley Girl" and co-starring sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff in their first screen pairing, "Material Girls" is the sort of witless, cynical exercise that future generations will point to as example of our society's vapidity. Having opened Friday without press screenings, naturally, the film will reach a certain percentage of its target audience, though anyone older than 16 or with Y chromosomes won't bother.
The plot, for those who care, revolves around spoiled rich siblings Ava (Haylie) and Tanzie (Hilary), who are the "faces" of their late father's cosmetics company.
Other than their modeling duties, the girls are content to spend their time instant messaging, talking on their cell phones and pampering themselves in every conceivable way.
But they are forced to abandon their complacency when the company is accused of disfiguring its customers. Attempting to prevent the business from falling into the hands of an archrival (Anjelica Huston, the latest of many Oscar winners who should be forced to return her statue for appearing in projects like this), the girls -- inspired by a glimpse of "Erin Brockovich" on television -- spring into investigative action.
While such films as "Legally Blonde" and "Clueless" have mined rich merriment from the travails of spoiled brats, "Material Girls" isn't in their league, let alone the same ballpark. Indeed, the lead characters, who whine about having gone "from Tiffany to Target in one single night" and plaintively ask, "Where's a spa when you need one?" are two of the most annoying figures seen onscreen in recent years.
Huston somehow manages to maintain her dignity, and Brent Spiner livens things up a little bit as an unctuous exec. Lukas Haas displays a nice understated quality as a love interest, while such performers as Maria Conchito Alonso, Obba Babatunde and Faith Prince are utterly wasted.
As for the Duff sisters, well, their work here only inspires hope that their 15-minute clock has started ticking.
Material Girls
MGM Pictures
A Maverick Films/Rafter H Entertainment production in association with Patriot Pictures Llc., Milton Kim Prods. and Concept Entertainment
Credits:
Director: Martha Coolidge
Screenwriters: John Quaintance, Amy Rardin, Jessica O'Toole
Producers: Susan Duff, Eve LaDue, David Faigenblum, Milton Kim, Mark Morgan, Guy Oseary
Executive producers: Tim Wesley, Michael Mendelsohn
Director of photography: Johnny E. Jensen
Production designer: James Spencer
Editor: Steven Cohen
Costume designer: Van B. Ramsey
Cast:
Tanzie Marchetta: Hilary Duff
Ava: Haylie Duff
Fabiella: Anjelica Huston
Tommy: Brent Spiner
Inez: Maria Conchita Alonso
Henry: Lukas Haas
Rick: Marcus Coloma
Craig: Obba Babatunde
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 99 minutes...
- 8/21/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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