Dirty Girl

Though it gets off to an almost disastrously unwatchable start, Dirty Girl ultimately does establish itself as an enjoyable little crowd-pleaser that benefits substantially from the star-making work of its two leads. Juno Temple stars as the title character, Danielle, a promiscuous high schooler who convinces an overweight outcast (Jeremy Dozier’s Clarke) to drive her across the country so she can meet (and hopefully live with) her biological father. There’s little doubt that Dirty Girl improves considerably once Danielle and Clarke head off on that road trip, as the movie is initially a wildly over-the-top piece of work that boasts far too many instances of eye-rolling comedy (eg Clarke’s father, Dwight Yoakam’s Joseph, equates washing his beloved car with a sexual experience). The almost pervasively broad atmosphere often feels at odds with the sporadic emphasis on heartfelt moments, yet, despite its wildly uneven tone, it’s hard to deny that the film does slowly but surely begin to grow on the viewer – with the compelling chemistry between Danielle and Clarke undoubtedly playing a significant role in Dirty Girl‘s surprising turnabout. The inclusion of an extremely sentimental (yet admittedly affecting) finale does ensure that the movie concludes on a decidedly positive note, and it ultimately does seem as though viewers who are more predisposed to appreciate the film’s less-than-subtle touches will probably find it easier to overlook its various problems.

**1/2 out of ****