|
 |
Poison Ivy
|
by New Line Home Video
Sales Rank: 45365
Price: $17.99
|
|
|
A sexy devious teenager has an unhealthy influence over a wealthy Beverly Hills family. Starring Drew Barrymore Sara Gilbert and Tom Skerritt.Running Time: 88 min.System Requirements:Running Time 88 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 794043484629
Viewer Reviews
In all honesty `Poison Ivy' is a terrible movie. The plot is predictable and campy, the script is poorly written and the mood of the film is manipulated and cheesy. That said; it is campy fun. `Wild Things' proved that camp can be done to perfection, and while this is no `Wild Things' it is certainly no `Showgirls'. What separates `Poison Ivy' from becoming the diluted mess that `Showgirls' was is the acting (although Gina Gershon was fantastic; seriously), which actually saves this film from being nothing more than a poorly conceived skin flick with `Lifetime' movie direction.
Ivy is a seductive teen who befriends Sylvie, an introverted girl whose mother is very sick and whose father is obviously suffering as much as his wife. Ivy moves in with this family and soon begins spinning her web and spreading her vine into the crevices of her new life. This involves seducing Sylvie's father Darryl and trying to take the place of her mother Georgie. As the film spirals to a close it runs off course in a series of far fetched sequences that expose Ivy for the person she is and brings a seemingly justified conclusion. If it weren't for the fact that Barrymore sells Ivy so well I'd be forced to say that this movie really has no value whatsoever.
But I can't honestly say that...
Drew Barrymore is a very fine actress, one that is often underrated and seen as mere eye-candy or Hollywood royalty (because of her family) instead of as a viable screen actress. Her performance here should squash that. I was having a conversation with a friend about the fact that a good actress will rise above a bad script and make it work. Barrymore does that flawlessly here. This script is undeniably bad (and the dialog is even worse) but Barrymore never shows it. She jumps into her role as if it was a role from the heavens and delivers a very strong and very convincing portrait of a very misunderstood girl. The ambiguities she brings to her character help make the film slightly better than it would have been otherwise (and I say `slightly' because even Barrymore can't save the film from absurdity).
The remaining actors all do well also. Sara Gilbert is decent here, but she pales when standing next to Barrymore. She has the disadvantage of being the most normal character in the film so she ends up becoming far less interesting. Ivy, Darryl and even Georgie all have their issues to contend with and thus become the focal point of our attention. Sylvie is merely trying to survive inside their world and thus she becomes rather dull. Tom Skerritt does a fine job shoveling his ridiculous dialog as does Cheryl Ladd, who really has a thankless role but never lets us know her disappointment.
Barrymore is the sole reason to watch this movie though. She gives a great performance that shows her acting talent full throttle. Looking the part and acting the part are two totally different things (as is made very clear when considering Elizabeth Berkley's horrendous performance in `Showgirls' versus Barrymore's stunning portrayal here). So, while I can't say that this is a good movie (because it's not) I have to admit that it has its moments, and it has Barrymore; and on a rainy, lazy afternoon that is more than enough for me.
Back To Top
|
Poison Ivy
Available from Amazon
|
|
NOTICE: All product prices, availability, and specifications
are subject to verification by their respective retailers.
Copyright © 2009, Dominant Systems Corporation
info@HowlingVideo.com
Privacy Policy
Last Modified : 1-7-2009
|
