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Tart (2001)

Rate: 4
Viewed: 9/21

Tart
9/21: Despite the misleading erotic poster and nice production values, Tart caters to a specific demographic: rich, spoiled white kids who attend elite private schools.

Nothing much happens for the longest time. It's hard to tell the girls apart. Relationships are superficial, and there's a lot of backstabbing going on. Kids abuse drugs like it's no big deal. The meaning of the word "family" doesn't exist, leading to a laughable let's-come-together ending for the mother and daughter. I find them all impossible to relate to although I get the point: it's about finding out people's true colors.

The cast is fine; most turn in passable performances. Eternally typecast, Brad Renfro is the odd man out whose character doesn't fit in with the crowd. Described as "popular," he has the face of a loser. Bijou Phillips plays a spunky character but disappears for a while. She and Brad Renfro would do a far better film: Bully. Forget the fact that Melanie Griffith has a top six billing; she's briefly in the film to say a few lines.

All in all, notwithstanding the wafer-thin plot, Tart is unoriginal although it moves well.