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Troop Beverly Hills
By Renee Schonfeld,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Stereotypes, silliness reign in uneven parody of rich girls.
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Troop Beverly Hills
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What's the Story?
Rich and superficial matron Phyllis Nefler (Shelley Long) is looking for her next "passion" when she discovers that TROOP BEVERLY HILLS, the neighborhood arm of the national Wilderness Girls, needs a new leader. Knowing nothing about scouting, even less about the outdoors, and devoted only to shopping, social climbing, and dressing up, Phyllis is sure she's just right for the job. Not only is she bored, but her marriage to muffler magnate (Craig T. Nelson) is falling apart. And she so wants quality time with her daughter Hannah. Unfortunately for Phyllis and her charges, the self-proclaimed Los Angeles leader of the Wilderness Girls is Velda Plendor (Betty Thomas). Jealous, possessive, and highly competitive, Velda makes a mockery of Phyllis' feeble attempts at scouting. In an odyssey of "fish-out-of-water" situations, Phyllis and company fail at everything but jewelry appraisal, wine evaluation, and divorce court. That is, until the cookie sale, where Phyllis shines. The building competitiveness reaches a climax at the Scout Jamboree. Will Phyllis, the undaunted dilettante, be able to make true Wilderness Girls of her troop members, or are they doomed to live out the shallow, empty lives of their wealthy families? Will Phyllis find that she's actually good at something? Will her disappointed husband find her lovable once again?
Is It Any Good?
There's not a real moment in this silly, shallow movie, teeming with stereotypes. But if you can get past that, and the fact that the leading lady drinks, smokes like a chimney, and is a "child-parent" at best, the movie has some moments of broad, funny comic moments. The outrageous costumes by Theadora Van Runkle are classics of bad taste, eccentricity, and preposterousness. In a word, they're a hoot. Ms. Van Runkle's creations alone may make this movie worth watching. And, though everything is predictable, obvious, and over the top, there are laughs. Kids will root for the barely functional, well-heeled housewife and the spoiled, poor little rich girls she brings to the "scouting" party.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movie stereotypes. Who and what are stereotyped in this film?
Made in 1989, this movie shows some behavior that would probably not be included in a film made today. List some of that behavior, and talk about how the movie might be different.
Talk about the costumes. How did they contribute to the tone of this film? Notice costumes in other movies you watch. How do they help tell the movie's story and enrich your understanding of the characters?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 24, 1989
- On DVD or streaming: March 20, 2003
- Cast: Shelley Long , Craig T. Nelson , Betty Thomas
- Director: Jeff Kanew
- Studio: Fries Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 106 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: June 19, 2023
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