Scarecrow-88
"Two Girls and a Guy" is a three-character piece, set almost exclusively in the guy's apartment, an actor who has been seeing two different girls on the side, with them unknowingly meeting each other as they planned to be there when he arrived. This sets up a dalliance of verbal queries about infidelity and lies, where Robert Downey, Jr. (in fine form, of course) must somehow navigate out of mine fields as the two women in his life (Natasha Gregson Wagner and Heather Graham) confront him on his relationship chicanery.This is an actor's showcase and will not be for all tastes…it is a stage play given cinematic treatment by a director (James Toback) talented enough to make "dialogue heavy" work. It helps when you have imminently watchable actors in your film, obviously. Graham was too often cast for her looks, but there's more to her than just how easy on the eyes she's always been. People might sometimes forget Natasha, but when I was in my early twenties she was around a lot. This might be her acting highlight (although, I liked her lots in "Stranger Than Fiction" (2000)). Not that she's been unemployed; she has been in a ton of television. All that said, this isn't an obit writing on Natasha's career, but a recognition of one of her finest moments.The two actresses meet at the door of the apartment complex, talk a bit (well, Natasha does most of the talking, in that "speedy won't let her get many words in edge-wise" fashion), and learn that the same man they are waiting to see is Downey, Jr. Wagner breaks into the window of his apartment, the two enter, with Graham surprising Downey, Jr. as he operatically sings around the joint, quizzically challenging his fidelity towards her in words. Well, he gives her the song and dance about her being the only one and Wagner emerges to give him a start. From that point forward, there's this tactical/strategic game of verbal cat-and-mouse where the two girls grill and drill Downey about why he lied to them and if he just should have been honest with them about the desire to have multiple women. It is one of those organic, cerebral efforts, where I am sure Toback allowed them to ad-lib and contribute much in the same way as Linklater did with Hawke and Delpy in the wonderful Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight series. I certainly don't think the actors stuck strictly to a script (I don't think the mirror scene after Downey, Jr. pretended to kill himself, with blood all over him, jawing at his reflection, was written as is in a script), but they were allowed the freedom to bring their own ideas to the characters. The loft is incredible: there's a piano and so much space, so it is hard to imagine he is as struggling as the phone calls to his agent might indicate. This vast, lavish loft does give the actors plenty of room to move about and make it a character along with them…but it is very much similar to a dressed stage in that it serves its purpose as a location for the talking heads to not feel too constrained. If anything, the loft is dressed so "actor oriented" with the profession of Downey quite ever present, that you have something as attractive as the actors in it. Downey, Jr. doing Hamlet as the actresses seem to motivate him is impressive. This might be a bit too talky and the dialogue often hangs on sexually based conversation driven by a narrative on concealing truth and betrayal, addressing the whys and reasons people cheat on those they are in a romance with. Included is Downey's devotion to his mother, and there's a sad final scene where Heather is there for him in a time of deep sorrow that's touching. This doesn't, surprisingly, just take a giant pile on Downey, but is a seemingly sincere attempt to have three people consider their options after infidelity is unearthed. A unique one-of-a-kind experiment…I think for some, this will be worthwhile if just because of Downey's involvement. This does have a fascinating make-out scene where Downey and Graham perform oral sex on each other while Natasha listens on intently; Natasha also posits that if Downey had just been honest with her, there might have been a possibility of a polygamous relationship!
Sam-953-169285
This movie is about lying and not lying. In this movie sex is the subject for the discussion about lying. I could be more clear about what I mean but I do not want to spoil the story.Except for the opening scenes, the entire movie happens in the apartment. It is nearly entirely the two women and the man having discussions in the apartment. Many would call it arguments but it is how some people have discussions. There is a little action thrown in that seems more for the purpose of making the show less boring than what it actually adds to the story otherwise.There is an important message that many people might miss but I think the message could be made in about one-fourth as much time.I get the impression that the writer was unable to provide better dialog for the women. I would have preferred that the story allowed Heather Graham to show more of what she is capable of (I do not mean sexually) instead of Robert Downey Jr.
EBathory
I bought this movie because I am a huge Robert Downey Jr fan again and i am trying to get a hold of all of his past stuff. Now, this one intrigued me and after watching it, still does. It more plays out as something that belongs on the stage rather than screen. I could very much see it as a play. I do say that the most emotion went to Downey while the two girls were very good when they went on the attack. After seeing the whole movie, you see the two girls in different lights. Carla had the deeper emotional attachment to Blake even though she seemed cooler at the beginning. Lou seemed to be more enthralled with the idea of dating a celebrity. Over all good but it takes some thought.
fernando samalea
First, ask yourself this question: What i am looking for? a) Light entertainment b)Great performances?. If you reply a) pass this movie, it will be booooooooooring. If you reply b) then this one's for you. Robert performance is great, and the two girls are good partners. Just to give an example check the scene at the jacuzzi. That scene was than only once, with dialogs between the 3...!!! I know there's a kind of monotony being filmed only in an apart but it's just a moment in the life of 3 people showed in a direct way. Now, that the studio's marketing dpt decided to promote it as a lightweight comedy is real, just look at the video cover and these comment (and others comments) and we'll agree.
