Movie Review: The Women, Wild Child

The Women

Bad Movie, Great Cast

I mean, come on: Annette Bening, Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing, Eva Mendes, and Bette Midler, for crying out loud! This should have been 114 minutes of chic flick bliss. Instead, it was hugely disappointing.
The acting was often forced and overblown. The characters were caricatures; they lacked depth.
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There are only 3 highlights that I can salvage from my memory. First was the fashion show (probably because there was no dialogue). Beautiful clothes made for a great visual experience. Second was Bette Midler. Even though her cameo came from out of no where (the scene seemed unnaturally inserted into the second half of the movie so that her name could be added to the credits), she was charming as usual. Third is the last scene in the hospital. It was chaotic (and yes overblown, again) but fun. The exaggeration in this scene is acceptable because it was slapstick. Therefore, by definition it was supposed to be overdone (unlike the rest of the movie). Though I must say, the Blair Witch Project-style camera work (you know, the kind that makes you a bit queasy) was a bit much.
Don’t get me wrong, these women have got style (we’ve seen them shine in other films), but you don’t see the sparkle in this movie.

Rating: 2/10

Wild Child

People like Lindsay Lohan have done it. So does Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow and Hilary Duff among many others. Thus even you have one of Tinseltown’s hottest actress as your aunt, you still need to pay your dues.
In "Wild Child", Emma Roberts (niece of Julia Roberts and daughter of sometimes actor, Eric Roberts) plays Poppy Moore, a totally spoiled California girl who is being shipped off to a boarding school in the UK by his father for her increasing rebellious behaviour. The rules of staying in a boarding school means Poppy’s Jimmy Choo (heels), Louis Vuitton (bags), iPhone and her internet access have to make way for prim & proper school uniform, school rules and the school bully aka headgirl, Harriet.
There’s the lovable Nick Frost (the chubby half from Hot Fuzz) who turns up as a sissy hairdresser and a bunch of supporting comical characters that makes "Wild Child" a joy to sit through.
If you love the Harry Potter series where the average age of the leading cast members is below the legal age of 21 or any of those early Lindsay Lohan’s girly flicks, you should have no problem lapping up this unpretentious and light-heartened teen comedy.

Rating: 6/10