'œDon't be fooled by the ad campaign,' said Claudia Puig in USA Today. Georgia Rule 'œis not an endearing Mother's Day movie.' In fact, it's infuriatingly degrading, portraying women alternately as victims, prudes, and whores. Lindsay Lohan plays Rachel, a 17'“year'“old rebel who flaunts her body and flouts the rules. Her mother, Lilly (Felicity Huffman), ships the girl off to a small town in Idaho, where she hopes her own mother, Georgia (Jane Fonda), can whip Rachel into shape. When Rachel accuses her stepfather of sexual abuse, however, Georgia and Lilly don't know whether to believe her or not. Perhaps this plot would fit a delicately handled drama, said Lael Loewenstein in the Los Angeles Times. But director Garry Marshall has filled this film with slapstick freakouts and smutty humor. 'œWith a different tone'”or in different hands'”its dark and light elements might have managed to coexist.' But Marshall, whose previous credits include Pretty Woman and Beaches, handles a heavy subject with little grace. That's a shame, considering he's blessed with three terrific actresses for this project, said Eleanor Ringel Gillespie in The Atlanta Journal'“Constitution. 'œWhen given half the chance, the stars rise to the occasion.' Even Lohan carries herself with a wisdom beyond her years, a feat for an actress whose rumored on'“set antics make Rachel's look tame.
Rating: R
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