5/5 Slums of Beverly Hills
  by Susan Hunter
This movie is just good entertainment. If you like Alan Arkin, he doesn't dissappoint either. You will have a fun time watching this movie about a disfunctional family & there issues.

4/5 DVD
  by copper
I was very happy with the product & fast shipping. The packaging needs to be improved, plastic bag type isn't enough protection. My DVD arrived with a hole into the DVD holder & the DVD was off it's post & sliding around. It doesn't appear to be damaged, but easily could have been.

2/5 Amusing but not much else
  by Richard Ross
Vivian (Natasha Lyonne) has two growing problems: her new found breasts and the unwanted attention that brings from boys and her crazy father Mel (Alan Arkin) continually moving Vivian and her two brothers from cheap motel to cheap motel in the middle of the night. To make matters worse her pill popping aunt Rita (Marisa Tomei) has just escaped from her latest stint at rehab and Mel is letting her live with the family so that he can continue to receive handouts from his rich brother, Rita's father. Rita introduces Vivian to the joys of sex by giving her her first vibrator and offering advice on the best bra to accentuate her growing breasts. Vivian's bust immediately catches the attention of her new neighbor (Kevin Corrigan) who is obsessed with Charles Manson but who makes room for Vivian as his new obsession. The film has some funny moments but the set up for the jokes takes way too long and often the payoff is not worth it. The best moments come from Corrigan and David Krumholtz who plays Vivian's pot head brother. He is auditioning for a role in the stage production of Guys and Dolls. He is hoping to land the role of Sky Masterson which Marlon Brando played in the film version. The funniest scene in the film involves him singing Luck Be A Lady after taking a massive bong hit since he believes that the marijuana will relax his vocal chords. Jessica Walter from Arrested Development is also good in her couple of scenes as the new woman in Mel's life whom he is trying to convince that his family is normal. Lyonne makes for a good heroine in Vivian and this is one of the actress's few starring roles but the film isn't as good as she is. Tomei does a fun job of playing the drugged out crazy aunt who is pregnant by a man that she met in rehab. Tomei and Lyonne have a good rapport between the two of them and their scenes are enjoyable whenever they are not speaking in their made up language. The performances are all better than the film itself and there are some funny moments but overall it's kinda pointless and dumb.

4/5 Wonderfully entertaining
  by CH Ryan (Adelaide, South Australia)
This is a wonderful movie, thoroughly enjoyable. Beautifully drawn characters, really interesting people. The writing and direction by Tamara Jenkins are glorious. The actors are so good in their roles. It's one of those movies where you keep thinking "I hope I can remember that line to use myself". Funny and also moving and heart-warming. This will be a favourite of mine to be watched many times.

4/5 Not for all tastes, but...
  by Robert Buchanan (Wisconsin)
If you have a fetish for the 1970s, can relate to a transient lifestyle and grew up in the acquaintance of that peculiar breed of earthy, middle-class Jews, you'll love this movie as much as I did. If not, your results may vary. I intended to see this when it was released to theaters a decade ago, but never got around to it. At my girlfriend's suggestion, I finally took the time to watch it and realized how dumb I was to have waited so long.

Two of this movie's highlights include great performances from a terrific cast and spot-on costume design that ably exhibits the tacky glory of the middle '70s. My only gripe pertains to Lyonne's monotone narration, which is unsuitably dull.

Recommended on a double bill with "Welcome to the Dollhouse" or "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."