Going Shopping

Henry Jaglom returns with yet another gabfest, this time set in a ritzy Los Angeles dress shop where an overdue rent bill of $40,000 results in threats of eviction. While the characters work together (and, sometimes, against each other), the action pauses for various women to address the camera on the subject of why they love shopping. The answers are somewhat expected: therapeutic value, the thrill of hunting for something nice and new, to escape from the real world, etc. To its credit, the film boasts wonderful performances from Lee Grant as a kleptomaniac, Rob Morrow as a kindly furniture maker, and Bruce Davison as the sleazy guy responsible for the dress shop's financial ruin. To its disadvantage, however, is Jaglom's reel-life and real-life partner and co-writer Victoria Foyt as the shop owner; her synthetic performance never hits its mark and seems amateurish measured against her costars. Furthermore, Jaglom's view of women is outdated: spoiled, self-centered, and easily manipulated by sweet-talking salesclerks, the women are also heavily reliant on men for everything (especially money) and, judging by the clothing in the film, lacking in good taste. Of course, Going Shopping is also about the higher-income leisure class, so working women viewers who have to hunt for nice clothing at affordable prices may find it difficult to connect with characters buying $350 dresses. Optional. (P. Hall)