Boys on the Side (Whoopi Goldberg)

REVIEW
Singer-musician Joan (Goldberg), reeling from the break-up of her latest band, takes a ride-share to L.A. with Robin (Parker), a seemingly pristine yuppie who bemoans the crash of the real estate market. En route, they stop to visit Joan's friend Holly (Barrymore), interrupting her savage beating at the hands of her scummy boyfriend. The swiftly moving odyssey which follows is punctuated by strong characterizations. Fine cinematography indulges the glowing desert vistas of Tucson, a pit stop which extends to include birth and death. The film flirts with mawkishness during the last half-hour, only momentarily crossing the line. While comparisons to Thelma and Louise are to be made, the film's more about survival than allegory. And that's its gritty strength.