Film Scouts Reviews: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

"Romy and Michele's High School Reunion"

by Leslie Rigoulot

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Going to "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" is a lot like going to a real reunion: both should be more fun. Two dim bulbs attempt to take stock of their shallow lives in (where else?) Venice Beach, California, and then return home to Arizona, attempting to impress the cheerleader crowd. It is just inconceivable that Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino would have to impress any girls because you know the trail of men behind them would be impressive enough. Real life Harvard and Vassar grads, these gals can play dumb, but it gets tiresome after the first five minutes.

The real problem is that they are too good-looking. The characters of Romy and Michele are actually minor ones from Robin Schiff's hit play, "Ladies' Room." In it they were "ordinary-looking girls who really thought they were hot disco babes." But they _are_ hot! Even the humiliation of wearing a back brace doesn't make Lisa look bad! Returning to school with a half-baked plan for appearing successful, they fall into all the predictable plot twists: nerd makes millions, and the gorgeous guy is an alcoholic jerk.

Then there is Janeane Garofalo, who could have saved the movie if she had more screen time. Cynical, chain-smoking and foul-mouthed, she is a breath of intelligent smoke. She knows the truth about Romy and Michele. And in the end we do too. They are lucky to have found each other; no one else could tolerate such stupidity. Rated R. Touchstone.

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