Kimberly (1999)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

so let me get this straight... these 4 guys from philly "all" bang their rowing instructor... OK, i can buy that, it's pretty believable. when they find out, one calls her a slut (even though he was involved in another relationship, and cheated with her, but then, i think she new he had a long term live-in girlfriend when she slept with him), and the other guy tries to break his face for it, because he's sure he is in love with her. spoiler---- the other two didn't even actually have sex with her, though one thought he did, and the other is just so damned gentle, sweet, and nice, he pretended to have done it, to make his friends feel better, since he was so damned superior to them... then they all decide to be there for her, support her through the pregnancy, and play daddy... no one even asked for a DNA test? righhhhht and of course it turns out to be the guy who loves her who is the father, because good things happen to pretty girls in movies.we're totally glossing over the part where they won a row race with only the scantest bits of training...OK, so the plot is really not truly set in this world... so what, it's a movie. the settings are excellent, and made me super homesick for philly (probably because they avoided showing how damn dirty most of the city is) the casting truly wasn't bad, nor the acting as bad as some people on here are accusing it of having been. Jason Lewis portrayed old philly money perfectly, as did the folks who played his parents. Sean Astin was a perfect rendition of at least a half a dozen guys i knew from back home...so the plot didn't sell me, the acting wasn't too bad...guys, there could be worse movies to get stuck watching with your girl...

Nice movie, interesting all the way through. Thought Anwar did an excellent job portraying her character, although I guess I'll never be able to see Sean Astin in a serious role. The whole Goonies thing really damages that for me...

Well, ever since I read about the making of this movie all the way back in the fall of 1998, I've been anxiously awaiting to see this film on the big screen. Being a huge Patty Duke fan and someone who really respects the work of her son, Sean Astin, I couldn't wait to see it. The fact that it's filmed here in Philly helped me want to really see it too.When I got to meet Ms. Duke while she was filming her Patty Duke reunion tv movie up in Montreal in 12/98, I asked her about this film. She said it was an odd little film, that her son Sean was in. She just had a cameo in it, as the doctor who delivers the baby towards the end of the film, and if you blinked, you'd miss her. She also said that her son called her up begging her to do it because the person originally hired for the part had to bail out at the last minute and they were stuck, and had to shoot it in a few days. Before Sean could go any further, Patty said to him "Honey, now, let's get to the important part: what are they gonna be paying me?!"She said of her one day on the set that Sean, being the ever so protective son, made everyone stop cursing around the set. Patty then turned to Sean and asked "Does this mean I have to stop cursing too??".With a great cast including, Sean, Molly Ringwald, Chris Rydell, the ever so handsome Scott Lewis, and Gabrielle Anwar as the title charecter, you can't go wrong, even if it's only on a measly two million dollar budget. Let's just say that you can't tell while watching that it was so low budget.The only problem I had with it was that it was way too obvious to me who, out of the four men, the father was, since he was presented in a different way than the others a little later in the film.Laine Kazan is hysterical as Rydell's shrink and of course Patty Duke is brilliant in her 4 minute role as Doctor Feinstenberger (love that name!)All and all---a beatiful ensemble piece with great direction and an eloquent score!

In the fall of 1998, in Philadelphia, we started production on a $2mil film that created a new Murphy's Law - "The Kimberly Effect". Things went wrong due to the general ineptness,politely called inexperience, of an odd crew led by the usual Los Angeles cast of meglomaniacal above the line people. This was particularly amusing because if they weren't Europeans, they were Isralis - how do they learn a second language, figure out who to "lunch" with and become the aspiring arbitrars of American pop culture? The only answer - the Kimberly Effect. Last month I got to see this film projected at the Houston International Film Festival, introduced by director Frederic Golchan, who walked right by me 4 or 5 times without recognition, even though in Philadelphia he gave me champagne. Product placement, but champagne none the less. He was busy being schmoozed by the festival folks, so I did not bother him. Amazingly, this picture was sweet and funny and made Philadelphia look beautiful - no small feat. Gabrielle Anwar and Chris Rydell had great chemistry, and people laughed in all the right places. A model turned actor was the only weak link in the cast, and he's so attractive no one else at the theatre seemed to notice. The music was lovely, and all in all, it was a pleasant bit of entertainment. I kept waiting for the film to break, the theatre to burn, the popcorn to spill, but nothing happened. The Kimberly Effect was over. I hope they sell the movie.