Two Girls and a Guy (1998)

53% of critics liked it
(59 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(6,866 ratings)

In this darkly comic tale of love and infidelity, Carla (Heather Graham) and Lou (Natasha Gregson Wagner) are both waiting outside an brownstone in Soho and happen to strike up a conversation. It seems both of them are waiting to meet their respective boyfriends, and as they discuss the bright,… More In this darkly comic tale of love and infidelity, Carla (Heather Graham) and Lou (Natasha Gregson Wagner) are both waiting outside an brownstone in Soho and happen to strike up a conversation. It seems both of them are waiting to meet their respective boyfriends, and as they discuss the bright, funny, romantic and monogamous men they've been lucky enough to become involved with, they make a surprising discovery -- they're both waiting for the same man, Blake (Robert Downey Jr.), an actor, musician and compulsive womanizer. As they compare notes on the man they've been unknowingly sharing and what they should do about the situation, Blake arrives and quickly starts trying to talk his way out of the disastrous situation. Writer and director James Toback claims he was inspired to write this project for Robert Downey Jr. after seeing a news report showing him in jail after violating parole regarding an arrest for drugs; Two Girls and a Guy was written in four days and shot in eleven days on a single set, and features excellent performances from Downey, Graham, and Wagner. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: James Toback
Written By: James Toback
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 24, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Jun 5, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
The young actresses Graham and Wagner here create two characters who feel whole, distinct and weighty.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An edgy, gabby, salaciously subversive sex farce.
David Edelstein, Slate
You gotta admire a director who can come up with a way to hang out in such luxurious digs for two weeks, acting out sexual situations with three of the dishiest young actors in the business.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
A lively, if slender, perpetuation of the battle between the sexes on a modern battleground.
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Writer-director James Toback must believe his audience is hopelessly prudish if he thinks this pedantic story, which takes place over several hours in a Manhattan loft, is provocative.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Toback has somehow managed to prolong and expand this sketchy egg-on-your-face situation with a series of unexpected ironies and power role reversals that are not without wit, humor and intelligence.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
There's a lot of vapid discussions about sexuality and fidelity that sound like a late-night drunken dorm room conversation.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Two Girls and a Guy really lives by its central performance, and Robert Downey Jr. makes it a compelling watch.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
As a serio-comedy, it only half succeeds. The laughs are well earned, but the attempts at serious romantic analysis fall short of poignancy.
Sandra Contreras, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Built around a fearless performance by the protean Robert Downey Jr., this deliberately provocative story of deception and sexuality packs a punch that's undermined by the director's indulgence.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A thoroughly engrossing, intelligent and enjoyable experience.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
There is little realistic feel to the characters, as drawn by Tobak.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Mildly entertaining. Is never as erotic as it thinks it is.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Eric S

If you like Heather Graham and/or Robert Downey Jr., you should check this one out. However, this film has it's problems. The story and dialogue seems to go nowhere, and the film pretty much falls flat. I do think there are moments that allow humor from Robert Downey Jr.'s… More
If you like Heather Graham and/or Robert Downey Jr., you should check this one out. However, this film has it's problems. The story and dialogue seems to go nowhere, and the film pretty much falls flat. I do think there are moments that allow humor from Robert Downey Jr.'s character who's an actor/musician that is clearly all over the place in many ways. When Carla(Graham) and Lou(Wagner) meet outside an apartment building(brownstone) in Soho(NYC), they start to chat about the guy they are waiting for and the coincidences are just too close. Heather Graham was my reason for watching any of this, and there is a scene or two worth seeing if you like her as well.
Conner R

A completely performance based movie that for the most part benefits from the style. The characters are allowed to develop right before our eyes, which is really the most interesting thing to see in film. Where most movies use time passage as tool, this uses real time and relishes in… More
A completely performance based movie that for the most part benefits from the style. The characters are allowed to develop right before our eyes, which is really the most interesting thing to see in film. Where most movies use time passage as tool, this uses real time and relishes in it. I'm not saying it would work for every movie, but it certainly does in a relationship drama. The scene where RDJ is caught and scrambles for a way out is one of the most uncomfortable put on screen.
Bruce B

Another Selection from the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival. About 2 girls who find out they are dating the same guy, So we spend the next 1hr 33 min of the 3 confronting each other. More of a stage play then a movie. Sad to say only worth 2 stars.
Luke B

Pretty much a play or three way conversation captured on film. Downey Jr. is amazing as always. Without him the film may have still been good, but the entertainment factor would have to be turned right down. It seems a fairly honest depiction of infidelity and the… More
Pretty much a play or three way conversation captured on film. Downey Jr. is amazing as always. Without him the film may have still been good, but the entertainment factor would have to be turned right down. It seems a fairly honest depiction of infidelity and the "reasoning" behind it. The girls are fairly good, but have trouble keeping up with Robert's smarts. The single apartment setting echoes real life claustrophobia of such confrontational situations. It's a very good film, with a few unnecessary twists towards the end.
Stefanie C

robert downey jr is just an amazing actor. both female leads play off one another well and reveal very different connections and personalities in conjunction to him. there is so much that works in this movie: dialogue, setting (including the jules and jim poster), tensions, and an… More
robert downey jr is just an amazing actor. both female leads play off one another well and reveal very different connections and personalities in conjunction to him. there is so much that works in this movie: dialogue, setting (including the jules and jim poster), tensions, and an amazing ending. i appreciate this film more on second viewing and ten years later.
Dean M

Robert Downey Jr's charm is the main attraction here, but it's put in the service of a character who is nearly impossible to like.
Curtis L

Booooooo.
Steve K

This was great when it was NC-17.
Michael G

Boring and pointless. Graham and Wagner aside.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

Angel David
as Tommy
Frederique Van Der Wal
as Carol

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