Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dated '90s satire filled with sex talk and profanity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Real Blonde
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Joe (Matthew Modine) is a struggling actor living in New York with his longtime girlfriend Mary (Catherine Keener), who supports them both as a makeup artist on model photo shoots. Joe's inability to find acting work is heightened by his idealism; he believes that acting in soap operas, for instance, is beneath him. Meanwhile, his friend Bob lands a prominent role in a soap and begins to attain some success while attempting to start an offscreen romance with costar Kelly (Daryl Hannah). To pay his rent, Joe swallows his pride and integrity and takes a job as one of dozens of male models in a Madonna video, clad in nothing but their swimsuits. As Joe continues to struggle to get his career off the ground, his relationship with Mary is at a crossroads -- do they continue to stay together or do they move on?
Is It Any Good?
In content, themes, and pacing, THE REAL BLONDE is an adult movie with adult concerns. It's both a satire and a reflection on the acting life, the objectification of beauty (in both genders), and the difficulties in maintaining long-term relationships in the midst of urban life. The all-star cameos -- everyone from Steve Buscemi and Dave Chappelle to Denis Leary -- pop in and out of the scenes. It's an earnest movie with plenty of messages, but the problem is that the messages don't offer any fresh perspectives. Acting is a tough racket, there are a lot of creeps who live in the big city, media objectifies beauty, and so on.
This is a '90s movie that hasn't aged well and not only because of the fashions. It's not a horrible movie; it's just that others (those made by Woody Allen, for instance) have explored similar themes and done it better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the acting profession. How does this movie reflect the highs and lows of those struggling to start an acting career?
Did the sexual content, discussions, and imagery seem pertinent to the overall story and some of the larger points the movie was trying to address? Why, or why not?
How was satire used in this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 9, 1997
- On DVD or streaming : January 26, 1999
- Cast : Matthew Modine , Catherine Keener , Daryl Hannah
- Director : Tom DiCillo
- Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Sexuality and language.
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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