THESE GIRLS and the Teen Comedy Genre

A whip smart coming-of-age comedy, THESE GIRLS, is an example of what Canadian teen cinema should aspire to become.

What do you do when the only catch in town happens to be married? You share him of course! Best friends, Kira (Caroline Dhavernas), Lisa (Holly Lewis) and Glory (Amanda Walsh), in turn seduce and then share the very married and older Keith Clark (David Boreanaz). Things go awry and tables are turned in this very witty coming-of-age story.

It's very rare to see a Canuck teen comedy as polished as this. The last time I saw one that was at this level was GINGER SNAPS ... and that was in 2001.

Based on a play by Quebec playwright Vivienne Laxdal, the film was written and directed Josh Hazlett with a team of script consultants, one of whom penned GINGER SNAPS (a ha! une connection!). But whatever the process, it worked.

Hazlett has an incredible sense of comedic timing. Much of the jokes come out of nowhere and unexpectedly which is a refreshing change from ye ol' predictable set ups to punchlines. In THESE GIRLS, the punchline is life and its reality. There were times when my friend and I laughed hysterically because the frustration these girls were feeling with the boys their age was all too familiar.

Why are movies such as these so rare? Most teen comedies insult one's intelligence to the point where all character motivations are a singular focus, rather than a complex interweaving of lives. But, I suppose it takes a great deal of effort to create something that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

THESE GIRLS opens March 24.