VERY GOOD GIRLS – The Blu Review

Acute portrayals and nice performances by leads Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen as best friends who pledge to lose their virginity before college, helps this mildly racy but ultimately innocuous teen sex film VERY GOOD GIRLS stay a step or two above the exploitative premise to emerge as something almost worthwhile. Boyd Holbrook also gives more than the role calls for as the handsome street artist who becomes their would-be conquest. His role is believable and even brings out Fanning’s performance, delivering something that could have been icky, but remains tender and even a tad affecting. Olsen is good as well, but Fanning’s always seemed a lightweight before.

The problem with VERY GOOD GIRLS (besides the 25-year old Ms. Olsen being far too old for this role) is that, despite the sexually tinged subject matter, the script is never fleshed out beyond what’s needed to service the plot. The girls are introduced with little detail other than the fact that one is leaving for college and the other is staying home for college and the whole tone often rings false in its portrayal of sisterhood and coming-of-age angst. The first-time director, Naomi Foner, just happens to be the mother of the Gyllenhaal siblings (Jake and Maggie) which most likely helps explain why this talented cast (Which includes Demi Moore, Richard Dreyfuss and Peter Sarsgaard who is Foner’s son-in-law) signed onto such a pedestrian, half-baked script.

VERY GOOD GIRLS comes to Blu-ray Disc from Well Go USA on September 23^rd featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 26 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.2 Mbps.

The image features all of the usual elements in good working order and yields a high-end quality presentation that should satisfy all viewers. The image appears slightly warm at times, resulting in mildly red flesh tones, but altogether offers a bright, consistent coloring that flourishes outdoors but still delivers precise hues under any lighting condition.

The sound mix is well-rendered and provides a wealth of involving surround activity. Dialogue is always cleanly presented and well prioritized. Fidelity is superb throughout the track.

The only extra is a 54minute featurette that is basically long Interviews with writer/director Naomi Foner, Dakota Fanning, and Elizabeth Olsen

I do recommend VERY GOOD GIRLS if you’re a fan of these two actresses or if you’re curious to see how a remake of LITTLE DARLINGS might play 34 years later.