What one finds entertaining in a movie can vary wildly. Even something like a few interesting performances can save a flat story. Conversely, a strong script or interesting direction can be the saving grace in a film populated with stiff, hammy actors. But then there are those films where nothing is really hideously awful but instead feel like they simply could of been better. Such is the case with Girl, Interuppted.

The movie features perpetual teenager Winnona Ryder as Sussana, a young woman sent to a mental institution in the 1960's. While there she bonds with the other patients, falls in and out of love, watches history unfold before her, has several learning experiences and generally behaves like she's in a valium induced After-School Special. Perhaps the original memoirs that the movie is based on were more thought provoking, but under the mediocre to melodramatic direction of James Mangold the story never really comes together like it should. While it's understandable that Mangold would want to lighten the mood of the story somewhat [mental illness is a pretty heavy topic] the idea that several references were made in the film linking it thematically to The Wizard of Oz seemed a bit much.

Perhaps my main problem with the film was that I never was sure how the institution was supposed to help the patients. It was portrayed more as a surreal daycare center for troubled teens than something that was designed to help the patients achieve mental healh. Plus, for an institution as grim as a mental hospital the girls still somehow managed to spend a majority of their time gadding about as if they were in a sorority. Who knew a mental institution could be so jolly?

I've always liked Winnona Ryder as an actress, but it seems she has yet to find a movie role that defines her. Whether she's in Heathers or Looking for Richard, she has always come across as being trapped in the wrong period of Hollywood. If Ms. Ryder were starring in movies in the 1950's she would be right at home, but until someone gets the bright idea to re-make Funny Face she's stuck playing a mental patient who, in spite of all the trials she has to overcome, keeps her make-up looking perfect. At least her close-ups weren't shot through gauze.

The other cast members were almost all forgettable. Portraying a nurse at the hospital, Whoopi Goldberg played yet another variation on the cosmic mothering role she seems to play in every third movie she pops up in. A majority of the patients were ciphers who were more defined by their ailments rather than their personality. The only other character that truly stood out was the sociopath Lisa, who was played by Angelica Jolie. Her character ran about chewing on the scenery with gusto, burbled through a wide emotional range, and generally seemed like a hoot to play. She wasn't a particularly believable character either, but that complaint could be leveled at the whole movie.

I'm certain I'm being too hard on the movie; it's heart was in the right place and, on the whole, I liked the film. But instead of seeing the good points in the movie all I could see were the areas that could of been improved.

Questions? Comments? On-line therapy session? Drop me a line at gleep9@hotmail.com and I'll see what I can do about getting you the proper institutional you need. If you're done here slouch on back to either the Second Movie or the Main Page.

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