Two Girls and a Guy (1997)

In case you got confused by all the controversial reviews...and can't decide to spend 84 minutes of your time on this film, here are some suggestions. DON'T WATCH IT IF: 1. you tend to pick movies with stylish cinematography that enhances dramatic or spectacular scenes; 2. you prefer movies with twists and turns woven into an elaborate screenplay; 3. you expect some sizzling scenes from the title or the NR-17 rating; 4. you are currently savoring your first love or consider yourself a hopelessly romantic person. But DON'T MISS IT IF: 1. you really enjoy dark comedy whether it's an indie or some Hollywood rare bird; 2. you love witty, sassy, sarcastic dialogue, and don't have a problem with profanities; 3. you readily accept any ludicrous circumstance as a natural facet of life; 4. you realize that it's common for couples to talk only on the surface about issues they're afraid to cope with, until a certain point where they must spill the beans to save the relationship or get it over with... Well, did I miss something? Oh yeah, 3 of my 4 stars go to Robert Downey Jr., simply because I believe any other actresses can carry the roles of Heather Graham and Natasha G. Wagner but nobody can do RDJr 's. He's really one of a kind.

Wow, I just looked up this film on a lark as I'd seen it a number of years ago... given the mixed/neg reviews, I figured I should put in a couple cents here, give this film its due 5 stars.

It would be a terrific exercise/experiment/experience to know enough of each person to contextualize why they did or did not like this film. I actually typically find I like films that sprawl across cities and countries, epic of backdrop. But what was so fantastic about this film is that it was epic of performance, of communication, of a different landscape of love than one normally encounters in films.

I suppose, cinematographically (sp), it unfolds like a expanded play or a focused Mamet film. I remember exclaiming, during a particularly heated argument-communication, "that's how it IS!" -there were just so many incredibly authentic relationship-communication details in a movie largely about deceits (self and other) and truths.

I believe I saw the film "Jules et Jim" after this (although it is much older) but was terrifically excited to see the fim poster for "Jules et Jim" hanging on a wall in Downey's apt. Ok, point. The POINT is that this film is ultimately an exploration of the complexities and vagaries of love and sexuality. Not that this film was a successful (or intentional) treatment of polyamory of open/liberated love, it did touch upon this possibility in a way I appreciated.

Ok, ok, so I haven't seen it in awhile but, at the time, I saw it probably 4 or 5 times. If you're really interested in relationship dynamics; if you're interested in seeing communication and conversations that have an air of reality and authenticity (better than reality shows, imho, because there is still an intentionality to the direction...like distilled reality gems); if you're intrigued by the full range and manifestation relationships can take; if you love Robert Downey Jr. and want to see an intimate performance; if you have crushes on Heather Graham or Natasha Gregson Wagner (I do! although I'm not sure I can spell her name)...then this movie is for you.

When we look at a film of relationships and say "that's not how it is," it is possibly because we're comparing it to the limited depictions of relationships we've so far seen on screen. The reality of relationships is that they are crazier than we can dream of, I daresay. Right? People loving people is really, in ways, a forefront of human evolution... the lengths we're willing to go to, the energy, the rises, the falls...we push ourselves in ways we would not have thought, watching ourselves, we ever would.

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First of all I'm surprised this went to Blu. I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out and instantly liked it. Going in though, you have to be aware that this is a 100% dialogue driven film. There's no action really, there's only three actors in the movie (well five, if you count the two in the very beginning for about two minutes). If you go into this expecting anything but essentially a theatrical play, then you may be disappointed.

Personally I think this is one of Robert Downey Jr's best roles to date, along with Less than Zero. I think roles like this, in which he shines so well as the perennial f*** up, doomed by his own inabilities to accept the fact that there are people who will not just abandon him at the slightest whim, hits too close to home for many people. They can't separate the fact that he's acting, from his real life struggles with drug addiction and other things.

And as such, when he puts on a great performance, people toss it aside and say "it's just him playing himself". Which is a great disservice, I think.

Heather Graham is very good in this, as is Natasha Gregson-Wagner (daughter of Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood), although Wagner can be EXTREMELY grating after awhile. She comes off as simultaneously cute & sexy, and irritating. Eventually you're waiting for someone to just yell at her to shut up.

But all three actors do a very good job with this, and from what I've read there was virtually no script. It was all improv, and I think that speaks volumes to how good these actors are.

I've read reviews of this which say that it's a movie where people just talk about nothing. And that's not true at all. It couldn't be farther from the truth. This film, while not a perfect film, is a great film as it pertains to relationships. I think many people watching can relate to this predicament that Downey Jr. finds himself in.

Perhaps not the exact situation, but we've all lied to significant others. We've all been involved with people and perhaps you don't feel exactly the same as they do, but you lie and say you do. If only to make them feel better. But that ends up hurting them anyway when they find out.

Here we have Downey Jr. who's dating two women simultaneously, all the while telling them that he loves them, and only them. Neither have any clue that he's doing this with someone else other than just them, thinking he's a one woman man.

Very good film, and one definitely not to be missed by fans of Downey Jr. Just know what you're getting into with this. It's not a big budget fancy special effects flick, and it's not an erotic threeway Cinemax flick, despite the provocative title.

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The first time I watched "Two Girls and Guy", I had no idea what to expect. What I got was a movie that was fast paced, riveting and hilarious. RDJ is excellent as the self-absorbed womanizer who is caught having an affair with two different women at the same time. Heather Graham and Natasha Gregson-Wagner play the two girlfriends to perfection. What amazed me about this movie was RDJ's ability to take what appeared to be a one-dimensional character who you want to hate for being such a jerk, and turn him into a three dimensional character who you feel sympathy for, like it or not. My only complaint is that the movie is way too short at approximately 90 minutes. See this one!

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This movie made me, an actor, not only look at myself, but look at others and wonder about lies and thier control of thier life. Downey Jr. Does an excellent job making you feel sorry for someone who doesn't deserve it. Heather Graham, shows just how easily we can become in need of someone. The whole cast portrays human conversation exceptionally well. I caught myself wondering about the script, if any of the movie was improvised. Good choice for a mature young adult.