Two Girls and a Guy (1998)
56%RT Audience Score: 41%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Two Girls and a Guy has an intriguing premise and a talented trio of leads, but doesn’t do quite enough with any of them to make the end result truly worth a watch
Two Girls and a Guy” is a movie that’s like a drunken dorm room conversation, but with better lighting and a fancier setting. The film follows the story of two girls and a guy (duh) as they navigate their way through a love triangle that’s as messy as a plate of spaghetti. While the performances are solid, the writing feels a bit undercooked and the plot meanders like a lost puppy. But hey, at least we get to watch Robert Downey Jr. act out sexual situations in luxurious digs for two weeks, right? Overall, it’s a decent serio-comedy that’s worth a watch if you’re in the mood for some salacious subversion.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
NC-17
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Robert Downey Jr., Heather Graham, Natasha Gregson Wagner, directed by James Toback, written by James Toback, drama, $2.0M box office, R rating, reviewed by Anthony Quinn, Owen Gleiberman, Michael O’Sullivan, Rita Kempley, David Edelstein, Todd McCarthy, Michael Dwyer, Antonia Quirke, Kevin Carr, Felix Gonzalez Jr., Sandra Contreras, Les Diaboliques, love, lust, commitment, narcissistic, arrogant actor, musician, New York City, Soho, brownstone, deception, relationships, honesty, fidelity, dark comedy, dramedy, stage play, real-time, Robert Downey Jr.’s complex performance, Heather Graham and Natasha Gregson Wagner’s impressive chemistry, underwritten, meandering, intriguing premise, talented trio of leads, not worth a watch
Worldwide gross: $2,057,193
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,692,719
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,261
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 402,696
US/Canada gross: $2,057,193
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,692,719
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,891
US/Canada opening weekend: $649,423
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,165,732
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,260
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,795,028
Production budget ranking: 2,038
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $966,623
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $931,068
ROI to date (est.): 34%
ROI ranking: 1,228
Heather Graham – Carla Bennett
Natasha Gregson Wagner – Louise “Lou” Johnson
Angel David – Tommy
Frederique van der Wal – Carol
James Toback – Director
Chris Hanley – Producer
Edward R. Pressman – Producer
James Toback – Writer
Director(s)
James Toback
Writer(s)
James Toback
Producer(s)
Chris Hanley, Edward R. Pressman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (31)
While Toback tosses out the occasionally smart line, the film as a whole feels underwritten and meandering.
April 1, 2019
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The young actresses Graham and Wagner here create two characters who feel whole, distinct and weighty.
February 12, 2008
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
An edgy, gabby, salaciously subversive sex farce.
February 12, 2008
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
You gotta admire a director who can come up with a way to hang out in such luxurious digs for two weeks, acting out sexual situations with three of the dishiest young actors in the business.
February 12, 2008
David Edelstein
Slate
TOP CRITIC
A lively, if slender, perpetuation of the battle between the sexes on a modern battleground.
February 12, 2008
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Downey Jr delivers one of his most complex performances.
April 2, 2019
Michael Dwyer
Irish Times
Tobak is fascinated with Downey, and spends most of the time following him about, like someone with a crush.
April 1, 2019
Antonia Quirke
Independent on Sunday
There’s a lot of vapid discussions about sexuality and fidelity that sound like a late-night drunken dorm room conversation.
June 27, 2011 | Rating: 1/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
As a serio-comedy, it only half succeeds. The laughs are well earned, but the attempts at serious romantic analysis fall short of poignancy.
November 10, 2009
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
DVD Review
Built around a fearless performance by the protean Robert Downey Jr., this deliberately provocative story of deception and sexuality packs a punch that’s undermined by the director’s indulgence.
February 12, 2008 | Rating: 2/4
Sandra Contreras
TV Guide
July 23, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Two girls, Carla and Lou meet on the street outside a loft waiting for their boyfriends. In a short time, they find out that they’re waiting for the same guy – young actor Blake, who said that he loves only her to both of them but was actually leading double life for a few months already. Angry, they break into his loft and when he returns, a round of accusations and explanations begins.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Robert Downey Jr. stars as a two-timing actor in Two Girls and a Guy.
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