Search - Wisegirls on DVD

Kent J. (kentj) from DUNBAR, WV
Reviewed on 7/15/2016...

Not a lot of action, some violence, no sex/nudity. Some character development, some mystery. If you already have or have watched everything else not a terrible choice but not a first choice.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

'Wise' choice for Mariah

Cryptic Critic "Kevin" | Central Florida, United States | 10/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First, let me clear up any confusion about the title and the concept of the movie: it's a feminine take on the term wiseguy. Second, this is not a chick flick. Before actually sitting down to watch the movie, I read some really positive reviews about the movie that praised the cast and their performances--the big shocker being that Mariah's portayal of Raychel garnered the most compliments. The story itself was well written. It flowed evenly and like other professional critics have said--the casting was perfect. The film itself takes place in Staten Island, NY (actually Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada). The plot revolves around our heroine Meghan "Meg" Kennedy (Oscar winner Mira Sorvino), a med school drop out who is trying to start her life over after suffering a traumatic loss. She eventually gets a job at Il Santalino, an upscale Italian eatery, and quickly learns via her new found friends sweet ingenue Kate (Melora Walters, "Boogie Nights," "Magnolia") and the graceful but brassy Raychel (Mariah Carey, who does a complete rebound after her disasterous big screen debut in "Glitter") that the restaurant is actually a front for a major drug cartel. Meg grapples with her conflicted feelings of accepting wads of $100 bills from mobsters just for being pretty, while at the same time avoiding the unwanted romantic advances of her boss's sleazy son. Sooner than you can say "al dente" the climax comes about in the form of an undercover cop (I won't tell who it is) who corners Meg and forces her to gather incriminating evidence against the Santalinos and their cociane-sniffing associates. The film then dissolves into an epilogue that reveals the outcome of three central characters. You'll want to stick around for the surprise ending.

As for the acting, I thought it was top notch. I must say that I was especially impressed by Ms. Carey's performance. Having seen "Glitter" I was dreading having to be subjected to watching any of the scenes Mariah was in. She amazingly and surprisingly did very well. The only complaint I have about her performance, was her Brooklyn accent--it sounded so fake. One would think she'd be able to pull off a more convincing one, being as she is a born-and-bred Long Islander. Mira Sorvino did a great job as always. Not an Oscar-worthy role, but none the less a good one. I thought Melora Walters's character Kate registered weakly at first. She was shy, funny, even cute. However, a certain plot device used later on in the film totally explains everything. The special features on the DVD are quite limited: only the trailer and Spanish and English subtitles are included. If you like comedy-dramas or are just in the mood for a well-done, perfectly constructed, modestly-budgeted movie, then by all means see "Wisegirls.""

Careyon!

andrew | uk | 10/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a great comeback for mariah carey were she gains much love for her charactor i have taken this review from the fantastic site mariah buzz
mariahs latest movie
Firstly, we're introduced to Meg (Mira Sorvino) who is making her move to Statten Island in New York after her past has forced her to go beyond and away from her home in St Louis, Missouri. Though we don't yet know Meg's story, it's obvious that whatever reason she's moving to New York, it is not a happy one. Moving in with her grandmother until she finds work, Meg soon enough finds herelf waitressing in the upper class Le Santilino's - an Italian restaurant where Meg finds true friends in the form of fellow waitresses Kate (Melore Walters) and Raychel (Mariah Carey). Friends are not the only unexpected people Meg stumbles across while working in the restaurant. She soon realises that the restaurant is more or less a front to cover up the drug dealings and murders that occur within. Before she can turn to run, Meg is swallowed immediately into the underground world and through her medical training, is seen by the bosses as a valuable asset - if she can keep her mouth shut. Meg tries to understand exactly what Santilino's is all about from Raychel but, the tart with heart just blows it off as usual business. As long as the money is good, "it makes up for all the times I get stiffed," explains Raychel. Waitressing in the restaurant for ten years, Raychel is a solid part of the so-called, 'family'. A tough talking New Yorker who does what she can to get by - even if it means confronting one of the regular customers, and mobsters, in a display of power where she comes out on top. It would be easy at first to blow Mariah's character off but, her portrayal of Raychel packs enough credibility to make you care enough for her just as much as she does for her pals, Meg and Kate, - especially by the end of the movie Kate, at first, comes off as vulnerable and shy - cute - but, as we later find out, there's a secret she's been keeping that will place the friendship of these three women in danger of falling apart forever. The climax of the movie seemed to roll by a little too quickly but, overall, Wise Girls played out well. There were really no uneccessary scenes that dragged along. Fast paced, we learned the story of all three women, we witness their friendships grow enough to feel for each of them and, with a few twists thrown in for good measure, we're treated to a movie that is memorable and entertaining."

WOW

andrew | 01/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I also bought this dvd because I am a huge Mariah Carey fan. But, I also wanted to see the film that was critically reviewed, but unfortunately wasn't released in theaters. I was shocked and pleased by how great this movie is. The ending is a complete surprise, and the movie is definitely worth seeing at least once! (And for Mariah fans, it's worth seeing over and over again!)"