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Cinema is a medium that usually focuses on an unbroken chain of images that often are split up into a number of scenes. A series of continuous images creates movement of some kind and strengthens the appealing factor of a scene. Yet, much of what is within the scenes remains stationary, while the audience often finds their attention being attracted to what is in motion. Additional texture often emerges through the fusion of image and sound, as the sound consists of music, dialogue, and sometimes both. Thus, cinema presents a unique opportunity beyond art, music, literature, theater, and dance, as it can combine two or more facets of life and the arts into a thoroughly absorbing experience. However, on occasion some films forget to utilize the exceptional ability of cinema, which leaves the audience with an inorganic cinematic experience. ***

Girl Play presents an intriguingly witty and warm story that is based on the play Real Girls by Robin Greenspan and Lacie Harmon who also play themselves in the film. The film opens with monologues alternating between Robin and Lacie who begin to debrief the audience about their background to how they fell in love. Robin has settled down with a woman while the free spirited Lacie seeks new challenges out of life on a daily basis. Their monologues narrate how they met and how their careers brought them together. They also disclose how their situations with parents, vocations, and social lives are affected by their love. ***

The monologues in the film are performed in front of what seems to be a small standup stage and the stage crew has decorated the background in order to give the milieu a little depth besides the brick wall behind. Frequently, the monologues are interjected with scenes that depict what Robin and Lacie experienced on their route to this point in their lives. Occasionally, the director Lee Friedlander attempts to utilize more creative cinematography such as creating a black and white scene and the split screen scenes to break up the monotony of the monologues. Despite these extravagant efforts to make the film more appealing Friedlander fails to do so. It is sad to see how the monologues overwhelming length neglects to employ the ability of cinema, which could tie together several aspects of the story in a different light. Instead Girl Play creates a distance between the screen and the audience through the lengthy monologues, which only makes the few cinematic touches feel awkward and out of place. This is truly unfortunate as the story had great potential on both a comic and dramatic level, which probably will cause some viewers to end the cinematic experience before the ending. *** ---

The DVD comes with two insignificant extras, which include a 25-minute feature from behind the scenes called At Play with Girl Play and a theatrical trailer. The behind the scenes feature offers the traditional interview with director and actors that help promote the film. There is some additional insightful information, but nothing extraordinary that will make a viewer leap with excitement. *** ---