Slums of Beverly Hills

Pros: Lyonne, Arkin, an insightful script, a well-executed premise
Cons: Tomei (at times), was not a world-wide smash hit

In a perfect world (one in which people weren't distracted by the sight of a kid getting it on with a pie) writer/director Tamara Jenkins' “Slums of Beverly Hills” would have been a zeitgeist-defining hit. People would run around asking each...

Pros: funny performances, Natascha Lyonne, Alan Arkin, the older brother singing Sinatra in his underwear
Cons: too sexually upfront?, some parts make you wonder "what was the point of that?"

Meet the Abramowitzes of Beverly Hills. They are America's version of nomads, traveling from cheap apartment to cheap apartment. All within the confines of the 90210 zip code so they can take advantage of the good schools. But living in Beverly Hills...

Pros: A Few Laughs Scattered Here And There, Good Ensemble Of Actors.
Cons: Kind Of Slow Moving, Depressing At Times, Rated R Not For Children.

Slums Of Beverly Hills is not what I had expected. I thought that this movie would be jam packed full of laughs, but this was not case. I was a bit disappointed with it. I truly thought that it would be uproarious, a regular riot, and maybe even...

Pros: A top-notch ensemble comedy, teen movie and chick flick all in one
Cons: Only for the clever and demented

When I saw the trailer for Slums of Beverly Hills in early May, 1998, I couldn't wait to see it. The white-trash comedy looked to be the funniest movie of the summer. But weeks and months went by, and the movie never became the wide-release crowd...

Pros: Good performances; a look at burgeoning female sexuality rare in its honesty and realism.
Cons: Formulaic, tube-ready gags and plot contrivances.

In late August 1998, the Fox network premiered a period sitcom called That '70s Show. If I didn't know any better, I would have believed that the pilot had already aired before then--on the big screen, under the title Slums of Beverly...

Pros: one or two moments worth watching
Cons: dull, not funny, no progression by the end.

Well, let me see...In the beginning of this film the father of this family is poor and living with his family nomadically, moving from place to place week to week. Sometimes day to day.

At the end of this film, they are in the same exact...

Pros: Unique characters, wonderfully funny performance by Lyonne.
Cons: Loses steam when Lyonne is offscreen, uneven plot.

Natasha Lyonne was one of the only good things about "Everyone Says I Love You" the Woody Allen musical and the same goes for this film. She has an exuberance and charm onscreen that young actresses rarely show these days. It's obvious she...

Pros: the dance with the vibrator is amusing
Cons: the entire plot

When I saw the commercial for "Slums of Beverly Hills," I thought it would be a really funny comedy about how the other half of Beverly Hills lives. I was extremely disappointed to find out that it is the story of a pathetic family who only...

Pros: Acting, dubious nostalgia value
Cons: Dubious nude scenes, facile humor, vaguely annoying characters

I'd heard good things about this one, but alas...I wonder if
"Slums of Beverly Hills" would have gotten as much critical
respect were it not written-directed by a woman (Tamara Jenkins)
- that sets aside the defense that only a...

Pros: Natasha Lyonne can act, some hilarious scenes, good simple story
Cons: pacing a little uneven, women better able to relate to main character

“The Slums of Beverly Hills” is a thoroughly enjoyable little film. “Slums” opened to some fanfare at several high-caliber film festivals, picking up a few awards along the way, but only lasted a few weeks at the box office, which isn’t surprising. I...

Pros: great acting, especially the lead
Cons: vulgarity, major sexual inuendos

The actors did a great job, but the story line was filled horrendously with constant sexual inuendos, from a girl obsessed with getting a breast reduction to then dancing around the room with her aunt's vibrator (it's only gets more explicit!)
...

Pros: funny, sweet, touching
Cons: none

Virginity, menstruation, love, getting felt up, being homeless, or arguing with her brothers, Natasha Lyonne is the best actress for the character of a seventies chick just trying to lead a normal life, but getting sidetracked somewhere along the...

Pros: hilariously smutty
Cons: hilariously funny

An absolute must see. I laughed my rear off. I will laugh my rear off again, and again, and maybe even again. And heck, again. I don't know her name, but she is great. I can't stress enough how great she is. This, Ten things I hate about you, and...

Pros: Fun performances, great period detail, poignant and amusing script
Cons: Bland narration

This review was first posted to Amazon on August 19, 2008: http://www.amazon.com/review/R101RLOT0VFO4Z/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
An uncensored, noncommercial version is available on my blog: http://harkabrazencur.blogspot.com/2008/08/film-review-slums-of-beverly-hills.html

If you have a fetish for the 1970s, can relate to a transient lifestyle and grew up in the acquaintance of that peculiar breed of earthy, middle-class Jews, you'll love this movie as much as I did. If not, your results may vary. I intended to see this when it was released to theaters a decade ago, but never got around to it. At my girlfriend's suggestion, I finally took the time to watch it and realized how dumb I was to have waited so long.

Two of this movie's highlights include great performances from a terrific cast and spot-on costume design that ably exhibits the tacky glory of the middle '70s. My only gripe pertains to Lyonne's monotone narration, which is unsuitably dull.

Recommended on a double bill with "Welcome to the Dollhouse" or "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."