. DR.J At The Movies: Slums Of Beverly Hills
Slums Of Beverly Hills


Starring Natasha Lyonne, Alan Arkin, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Corrigan, Jessica Walter, Carl Reiner Rita Moreno, David Krumholtz. Directed and Written by Tamara Jenkins.

Vivian (Lyonne) is the only female in a family of two brothers and their old-fashioned father. Her parents divorced and the family left home and drove out west, landing in Beverly Hills. Her father Murray (Arkin) wants to stay in Beverly Hills to take advantage of the good schools, and for his kids to rub elbows with the beautiful people. The problem is the used car salesman cannot afford the high rents that the area usually requires. So the family is used to packing in the middle of the night and leaving for another cheesy apartment when they get too far behind in the rent. Vivian's current problem is "larger" - she has experienced a sudden growth spurt, and she thinks she's a freak, despite a salesclerk's assurance that "breasts are a blessing". After another of the family's moves, Vivian meets her young neighbour (Corrigan) who definitely thinks it's a blessing, and they explore that blessing.

Vivian's cousin Rita (Tomei) has just gotten out of rehab and is taking heat from her parents (Reiner and Moreno) to make something of her life. She lands at Murray's, and together they cook up the scheme that has Rita going to nursing school and living with Murray, in exchange for her parent's putting up the rent. For the first time they get to live in a nice apartment. Vivian finally has a female she can talk to. Rita introduces her to dancing and the magic of the vibrator, actually at the same time in one of the film's best scenes. And Murray finds a lady friend (Walter). But not surprisingly, things might not work exactly as planned.

Slums Of Beverly Hills is a semi-biographical story of director Jenkins' life as a product of divorce in the 70's and the only female in her family. It is a mostly non-sentimental look at growing up as a girl, with Vivian loosely based on Jenkins' life, and it appears the excitement and fascination males feel for female breasts are not entirely welcome or understood by young girls. Lyonne was Woody Allen's and Goldie Hawn's daugher in Everyone Says I Love You, and is asked to carry the movie, and she does. With her unkempt curly red hair, she has great comedic timing and presence. Equally good is Arkin, who plays what would generally considered a deadbeat who won't pay his rent, but shows Murray to be a man who loves his children and keeps trying (and failing) to make a better life for them. Tomei is also quite good, delivering an energetic and funny portrayal of the mixed up Rita. Krumholtz is consistently funny and gives the film much of its energy and humour whenever he's on screen.

In all cases, (expect possibly Rita's rich parents and Walters), the characters are written with compassion and affection, as people with dreams of finding a better life, but discovering that love and family may be as important as money and your zip code. The dialogue is consistently fresh and interesting, and the laugh are not from one-liners, but humourous developments in the story. The film occasionally devolves into sitcom silliness (a dead cat in the oven) and the last third of the film is not as strong as earlier parts (including an out of character pass Murray makes to Rita, and her unconvincing response). But overall, it is a warm and entertaining film that both boys and girls will enjoy.




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