Boys on the Side (1995)

73% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(34,459 ratings)

This emotion-filled story stars Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, and Drew Barrymore as three women from different walks of life who find comfort in each other through tragedy. Parker plays Robin, an HIV-positive real estate executive who meets Jane (Goldberg), a lesbian lounge singer on her way… More This emotion-filled story stars Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, and Drew Barrymore as three women from different walks of life who find comfort in each other through tragedy. Parker plays Robin, an HIV-positive real estate executive who meets Jane (Goldberg), a lesbian lounge singer on her way to the West Coast who needs a driver. Robin volunteers for the job, and along the way, they stop in Pittsburgh to visit her friend Holly (Barrymore), who is pregnant and abused by her boyfriend. In an attempt to save Holly, all three decide to head West together to begin a new life. But they get only as far as Arizona before Robin falls ill and the three are forced to learn to rely on one another for growth and emotional sustenance. Jane, though concerned about Robin's condition, also finds herself with a romantic interest in her ailing companion. Holly confronts her need to be with abusive men, while Robin comes to grips with her fear of being alone and the realization of her own impending death. Fans of Herbert Ross' earlier Steel Magnolias (1989) might appreciate this movie, which tackles some of the same themes. Sometimes referred to as a "feminist road movie," the film deals with women who find one another in a time of crisis and realize that the bonds among women are more powerful than any of life's obstacles. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Herbert Ross
Written By: Don Roos
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 3, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Nov 6, 2001
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, Los Angeles Times
The three women are so spirited and funny -- so emotionally keyed into all the hearts and flowers -- that they give the movie their own kind of truth.
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic
The entire film feels like the result of a market study.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Roos and Ross (and I promise never to put those names together again) are so busy jerking the audience from wacky to teary, and back again, they seem blithely unaware of the howling melodrama of it all.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An engagingly acted, likable, fried green Thelma & Louise.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
It's decent mass consumption entertainment, but there's not much in the way of meat.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It's an original, and what it does best is show how strangers can become friends, and friends can become like family.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
makes me cry every time
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A bit soapy, yes, but it's high quality soap.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Total chick-flick -- but quite a bit better than it looks.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Meddles uneasily between comedy, romance and thrills
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Touching drama about some idiosyncratic people who must learn how to help and be helped by those who cherish them.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
One of those "chick flicks" that actually tries to wedge some sincerity into the equation.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

This is a movie I have watched many times over the years and have owned in more than one format (VHS, laserdisc and now DVD... and frankly the transfer on the DVD is so crappy if it comes out on blu here, I am all over it!), so that gives you some idea how much I love it and how… More
This is a movie I have watched many times over the years and have owned in more than one format (VHS, laserdisc and now DVD... and frankly the transfer on the DVD is so crappy if it comes out on blu here, I am all over it!), so that gives you some idea how much I love it and how biased this review is going to be! As far as I am concerned, it is the perfect movie about female friendship... another one that leaves SATC in the pale (fun though those movies might be). Casting is perfect. I am far from a Whoopi Goldberg fan (she normally grates on me), but she is really good in this as Jane, a musician and lesbian who meets up with Robin (Mary-Louise Parker - just perfect here. I had never seen her in anything before this and I was drawn to her portrayal of the slightly dorky but beautiful Robin). Both are looking to leave town for various reasons and decide to car pool to California, though seemingly totally incompatible. Along the way they pick up Jane's friend Holly (Drew Barrymore - also a perfect role for her) who has got herself into a bit of a scrape with her dodgy boyfriend. The three get to know each other better, secrets come out and long lasting friendships are formed. The ending is incredibly sad and moves me to tears everytime without fail. I don't want to say more than that and ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen this. Even though the twist which leads to the end is revealed fairly early on in the movie, you do still kind of hope it will not happen as you just really can't wish any bad on this emotionally scarred character. I had not realised that Matthew McConaughey plays the policeman Holly falls in love with - I have not watched this movie in a few years, and I probably didn't really know who he was at the time. (Now of course he is in just about every chick flick going). He is pretty slimy here - both himself and the character, so I guess he suits it!
Tim S

Don't remember much about this one.
Wahida K

The Best and precious gift ever is laughter and the miracle of friendship.
Dean M

his road/buddy movie explores the special relationships that can develop among women. Little emotionally friendship story on the road, but sadly at the end.
Antony S

The adage 'feminist road movie' is probably overused in description of this picture, but it is perfectly apt. Three wildly contrasting young women set out on the road after one party's boyfriend becomes violent. They incapacitate him, but a few days into the journey,… More
The adage 'feminist road movie' is probably overused in description of this picture, but it is perfectly apt. Three wildly contrasting young women set out on the road after one party's boyfriend becomes violent. They incapacitate him, but a few days into the journey, he is reported dead. The trio flee in panic, and in the process get into various situations that require them to pull together despite differences. Boys On The Side is well acted, the leads are pretty convincing in their roles as modern lesbian, bookish housewife and, well, tart, and the script does allow for some top comedy moments (Barrymore reads 'morte' - "Who's Morty?", and various sight gags), all of which keep the tone mature and affecting. Unfortunately it does suffer from the typical Hollywood rot setting in about fifty minutes in, in which the rest of the yarn becomes painfully predictable. Relationships are broken, there's a handsome stud, disease/disfigurement, lessons are learned, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh, and there's some cast singing too. I can be subjective about chick flicks, and this is certainly better than most. But when the plot more or less gives up in defeat after some sparkling opening scenes, they're never going to command more respect than from the already intended audience. Worthwhile.
Megan S

Very good movie but very sad. Awesome soundtrack.
Leigh R

Good film.
Sarah P

It was okay, something I'd watch in passing or while doing something else.
Sunil J

A bit cheezy in parts but it's cute and sweet.
Lee K

meh
Chad R

I had to watch this with a former GF. Former for a reason, girls, don't make your guys watch this crap OK?