bkoganbing You can't say there aren't good roles written for women after having seen Boys On The Side. Three plumb parts are written here for Mary Louise Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, and Drew Barrymore and another good one for Anita Gillette as Parker's mother.Parker is in need of someone to share road expenses on a move west and Goldberg answers an advertisement in New York. When they get to Pittsburgh they add on a pregnant Drew Barrymore fleeing from an abusive drug dealing boyfriend Billy Wirth. The last time I saw a film with a plot premise like this was Kalifornia where David Duchovny takes on a psychotic Brad Pitt as a traveling companion with their respective women. That one was deadly serious and I do mean deadly film. In a much lighter vein Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland got Burns&Allen and a large great dane in Six Of A Kind.Boys On The Side falls between these other films in its humor ratio. The trenchant observations the women have about life and love are the best part of the film. All three have secrets we all learn, one of them is dying.Best two scenes in the film are Goldberg on the stand giving as good as she gets with prosecutor Dennis Boutsikaris and Parker and Gillette having a good mother and daughter hair letting down.Matthew McConaughey got some early attention here as a deputy sheriff who falls for Barrymore. It's a real difficult part and I'm not sure McConaughey avoided being too much a Dudley Do-Right.Still more than just cast member fans will find something to like with Boys On The Side. It will grow on you.

socalcarli I see this once every few years and remember why I think it's so cool. This is definitely a women's movie; about the friendships between women. Each one has her own personal challenges, like we all do in real life. They sometimes have difficulty with each other, like friends in real life. They depend on and support each other, like friends do in real life. The movie is both funny and sad, like real life. I've always thought Mary Louise Parker is a great actress, though sometimes I have tired of her "victim" roles - before her "Weeds" days (love Weeds)! Here's Drew at her Drew-i-est, adding her own bubbly appeal to Holly, clueless as to how bad her relationship with the drug dealer (now dead - at her hands) was. Anyone who has tired of Whoopi's poor choice of movie roles (do I really have to list them?) will be refreshingly surprised at her skill in this movie. She really brings it to the table. One more thing - boys ARE on the side here - but I have to mention a couple, because I really do love them! Matthew Mc in his younger days as Abe Lincoln; HONEST ABE, too cute, too by-the-book, but thoroughly engaging. Finally, James Remar, who I loved and loved to hate as Richard in Sex in the City, oozes sexiness.I love a good dark comedy, and this is a great one.

Tinyhippy I LOVE this movie. It's touching, funny, sad, heartbreaking and inspiring all in one. I found Mary-Louise Parker's character so like myself that it was hilarious! Drew Barrymore, lovely as ever in her role, provided the much-needed sparkle to the movie. Some parts were a lot sadder and more sinister than others, but Drew was always there to bring the sunshine!It's so touching, it makes me cry every time. But I love it. It's not perfect by any means, but it's definitely one to watch with the girls. Boys are on the side.

George Parker "Boys on the Side" tells of an unlikely trio of females who take a road trip and discover each has issues which require the support of the others. Thus forms the glue which holds together Goldberg, Parker, and Barrymore and the conglomeration of characters which coalesce around them in this sentimental tale with humor, charm, and poignancy and its share of sappy, weepy, and corny moments. Worthy of being labeled a "chick flick", "Boys..." makes for an entertaining watch for females...and their boys on the side.