Slaves To The Underground

Despite the hip clothes and the late-night dancing, Slaves to the Underground--think: lesbian/alternative/Seattle-scene version of Dawson's Creek--is strangely conventional, with characterizations and messages that would find favor with both the Family Research Council and the tobacco industry. Shelly (played by Molly Gross). As the film opens, Shelly (Molly Gross)--who left her boyfriend Jimmy (Jason Bortz) after one of his friends date-raped her--is in a relationship with girl-band-leader Suzy, a mean, controlling lesbian who, the film suggests, has used her dykish wiles to recruit Shelly to the ranks by exploiting her temporary distaste for things masculine. Jimmy is, of course, an infinitely patient and loving man who will do anything--even get a job, at Microsoft, no less!--to win back his girl from the maws of Ms. Dentata. Rather than work toward problem resolution, let alone report a rape to the police, the characters (when they aren't having fist-fights in dance clubs) sit in diners puffing on cigarettes and pouting. (How they can afford tobacco and dining-out is not clear, since none of them appear to earn more than $200 a month selling zines or playing in a "grrl" band.) Not recommended. (K. G. Schneider)