Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Wow. What a pleasant surprise!

Boys On The Side was not at all what I was expecting, and in this case, that's a really good thing! I was expecting a light, fluffy, "chick-flick", that would go in one ear and out the other. But what I got was a movie that made me laugh, and made my cry, and will stay with me for a very long time.

Although it starts out a little slowly for my taste, after the first 30 minutes we have three women, all very different, bonding during a road trip that will change all of their lives forever. Mary-Louise Parker plays Robin, a sweet, goody-two-shoes woman who wants to drive out West to relive her childhood memories. Whoopi Goldberg plays Jane, a singer out of work, and a lesbian. She decides it's time to make a new life for herself, and accompanies Robin on the trip. Along the way, they stop at friend Holly's house (Drew Barrymore). Holly's in the middle of a nasty "domestic dispute" with her strung-out, abusive boyfriend. In self-defense Holly smacks him over the head with a baseball bat, ties him up, and leaves him there to struggle. And the three women are off for their adventure.

The rest of the movie deals with some very serious issues. AIDS, pregnancy, homosexuality, family, honesty, the justice system, but most of all, friendship. Friendship that means you take care of the other person, no matter what they've done. Friendship that often strains under severe pressure, but never completely cracks.

The performances of all three women were absolutely superb. I'd say they all nailed the roles perfectly. Parker shows us a Robin that can grow from the slightly repressed "good girl", to a woman that bravely deals with her illness and learns to open up and accept new experiences. She also learns the true values of friendship and family. Whoopi gives us a Jane who starts out fiercely independent, wise-cracking, and tough-as-nails, but in the end, is unbelievably sensitive and loving. Then there's Barrymore. She's young, feisty, and a bit of a party-girl. But her heart's huge, even if her loyalty is a bit misguided at times. Along the way, she will learn to respect herself enough to accept the love of a good person, as opposed to the abusive men she's used to.

The friendship that develops among the women is wonderful and touching to watch. It's not that they never have spats; they do. But in the end, they are there for each other, and they help each other through the tough times. Most notably are the scenes towards the end between Robin and Jane. When they finally have a bare-all honest dialogue, it's enough to bring tears to the eyes.

No review of this movie would be complete without mentioning the soundtrack. The songs used in the background are perfect. We also get to hear Whoopi, herself, perform during the movie. Most notably, there's a point where Jane and Robin share a rendition of Roy Orbison's classic, "You Got It" that was absolutely perfect. The scene change mid-way through the song was enough to bring tears to my eyes. And even my husband said "Wow - that was really nicely done".

This is an unbelievably touching movie, that will make you laugh, and make you cry. I recommend it for everyone - not just "chicks".


Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age