Lilly Berger (Dakota Fanning) and Gerry (Elizabeth Olsen) are best friends. Whilst spending their last summer together before going to university, they decide it is time for them to lose their virginity. This mission becomes quite difficult they both fall in love with the same mysterious guy who enjoys photographing random people, David Avery (Boyd Holbrook). The choice is quickly made by the young who develops a fascination for Lilly. The birth of a romantic relationship between David and Lilly forces the latter to lie to Gerry, putting therefore their precious friendship into jeopardy for the first time.
Very Good Girls, directed by Naomi Foner, is a disappointing and predictable film which dramatically undermines the image of female teenagers. To begin with, the characters are uninteresting, superficial and totally empty. Concerning the storyline, not only is it quite boring and cliché, but it also degrades young women adults as they are primarily and exclusively portrayed through their sexuality. Indeed, even if it is always positively interesting to see young women exploring their sexual identity and interest, Lilly, for example, appears to have neither professional ambitions, nor dreams. Her only aim in life, as told by the film, consists in losing her virginity. As a result, Lilly is a boring character and Dakota Fanning’s uninspired interpretation clearly does not help. It is actually hard to understand why David falls in love with her. Lilly is a banal girl who is only driven by her sexual curiosity. Moreover, the title of the film, Very Good Girls, can imply the shameful idea that girls are valuable only when they are virgins. In other words, it indirectly stigmatises young women who are sexually active as being bad, therefore not respectable.
The only good aspect of Very Good Girls is the friendship between Lilly and Gerry. The support they give each other is wonderful. However, their relationship is unfortunately superficially and stereotypically developed. Why do they have to fight over a guy? This battle to get David is so cliché. The film is so much better when the focus is on the link uniting Lilly and Gerry. Indeed, it is far more interesting to see them helping and supporting each other going through hard time rather than trying to attract male attention. Furthermore, Gerry is definitely the most touching and complex character. Whilst she appears strong, she actually seems to have some serious mental disorders. Very Good Girls would have gained some value from developing Gerry’s issues further.
Overall, Very Good Girls is a mediocre film which shamefully and superficially displays young women who exclusively define themselves through their sexuality.
Not just a film 