Boys on the Side

Directed by Herbert Ross, Boys on the Side details the friendship that ensues between a trio of disparate figures (Whoopi Goldberg’s Jane, Drew Barrymore’s Holly, and Mary-Louise Parker’s Robin) – with the narrative focusing on the various complications that inevitably arise for each of the characters. Filmmaker Ross, armed with a script by Don Roos, delivers an amiable endeavor that benefits substantially from the top-tier efforts of its three stars, as the performers’ first-class work goes a long way towards compensating for a flabby, episodic narrative that’s only engrossing in fits and spurts – with the padded-out running time only exacerbating the movie’s hit-and-miss feel. It’s equally clear, however, that Ross generally does an effective job of infusing each of the three protagonists with sympathetic, ingratiating qualities, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that certain late-in-the-game developments hit much harder than one might’ve anticipated as a result. The end product is a solid drama that generally feels like it should be much more involving on a continuous basis, although it’s hard to deny the overall effectiveness and impact of the rather irresistible bond that forms between the three heroes (ie as a story of female friendship, Boys on the Side undoubtedly excels).

*** out of ****