DIRTY GIRL

     JUNO TEMPLE  JEREMY DOZIER  MARY STEENBURGEN  MILLA JOVOVICH
     DWIGHT YOAKAM  WILLIAM H MACY  TIM MCGRAW

DANIELLE (TEMPLE) IS THE SCHOOL'S "DIRTY GIRL."  SHE LIVES WITH HER MOTHER (JOVOVICH) WHO IS PLANNING TO MARRY A RELIGIOUS FANATIC (MACY).  DANIELLE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, SO SHE DECIDES TO TRY AND FIND HER REAL FATHER (MCGRAW) WHOM SHE HAS NEVER MET.  SHE GETS HELP FROM CLARKE (DOZIER) WHO IS GAY.  CLARKE'S FATHER (YOAKAM) CAN'T ACCEPT HIS SON'S LIFESTYLE, AND CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE IS CLARKE'S MOTHER (STEENBURGEN).
ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS A COMING OF AGE ROAD MOVIE.  IN SEARCHING FOR HER FATHER, CLARKE AND DANIELLE DRIVE FROM NORMAN, OK TO FRESNO, CA AND ALONG THE WAY NOT ONLY DISCOVER A LOT ABOUT THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO DISCOVER WHAT TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS.  AT THE START OF THE MOVIE, DANIELLE CALLS CLARKE A RATHER VILE NAME AND CLARKE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE IN AWE OF DANIELLE, ALTHOUGH WE NEVER KNOW FOR SURE WHY.  BY THE END, THEY HAVE FORMED A BOND THAT WILL NEVER BE BROKEN.  THAT IS STANDARD FOR A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE, BUT IT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN THAT GIVES THIS MOVIE ITS STRENGTH.  ON THEIR ROAD TRIP, DANIELLE AND CLARKE GET INTO MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS WHERE THEY HAVE TO RELY ON EACH OTHER, AND IT IS THROUGH THAT SUPPORT OF ONE ANOTHER THAT THEIR BOND BEGINS TO FORM.  THIS IS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND BELIEVABLE, ALL THE CHARACTERS GROW AND THE DIRECTING IS WELL PACED AND LOGICAL: YOU NEVER GET LOST OR NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.
RATING  4 OUT OF 5