The Slums of Beverly Hills Review

by David Sunga (zookeeper AT criticzoo DOT com)
September 10th, 1998
SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS (1998)

Rating: 2.0 stars (out of 4.0)
********************************
Key to rating system:
2.0 stars - Debatable
2.5 stars - Some people may like it
3.0 stars - I liked it
3.5 stars - I am biased in favor of the movie
4.0 stars - I felt the movie's impact personally or it stood out *********************************
A Movie Review by David Sunga

Directed by: Tamara Jenkins

Written by: Tamara Jenkins

Ingredients: Precocious teenage girl during the summer before high school, family

Starring: Natasha Lyonne, Alan Arkin, Marisa Tomei

Synopsis:
In this coming of age story a precocious girl named Viv (Natasha Lyonne) lives with well-meaning family members such as a marijuana-smoking brother and a ditzy female cousin (Marisa Tomei ) who has run away from her rich home. The summer before high school, Viv discovers her breasts have grown large. Before high school starts, she must learn how to use menstrual pads and a vibrator, lose her virginity, and deal with her breasts and family.

Opinion:
I applaud the efforts of writer/director Tamara Jenkins, who manages to provide eccentric, sympathetic characters and writes quite well. At the same time, I think the subject matter is problematic because of limited appeal. There's probably not a very wide audience that finds summer movie entertainment in pre-high school menstrual pads and vibrators.
Reviewed August 30, 1998

Copyright © 1998 by David Sunga
This review and others like it can be found at
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