Sticky Fingers Movie Review

Sticky Fingers represents the directing debut of actress Catlin Adams, so perhaps Adams’ intrusive “Look Ma, I'm directing” style will acquire more discipline on future projects. Adams wrote the script with actress Melanie Mayron, who co-stars in the movie with Helen Slater and a cast of mostly women: Shirley Stoler and the late Gwen Welles plus Oscar nominees Eileen Brennan and Carol Kane. The plot hinges around a bag that Mayron agrees to keep for Slater's drug connection. It turns out that the bag contains nearly a million dollars, which horrifies the roommates at first and later hypnotizes them into a $240,000 shopping binge. Along the way, we see a world frequently shot in extreme close-up through pale green or blue filters. We also hear self-conscious statements about relationships between women as well as some labored concessions to straight audiences who might be threatened by the suggestion that any of the major characters could be gay. Despite the obvious feminist sentiments of the filmmakers, it is irritating to observe how carelessly and how often the roommates lose money and how passive these two are about most of the circumstances in their lives. When the pair takes action, it is usually a dumb move. If a film history of female buddy movies is ever written, I predict that Sticky Fingers will warrant a small footnote as one of many attempts to repeat the success of 1987's Outrageous Fortune, a film which isn't worth imitating. It's a pity, because a lot of time and talent went into the film. (Mayron went on to direct 1995's The Baby-Sitter's Club.)

1988 (PG-13) 89m/C Melanie Mayron, Helen Slater, Eileen Brennan, Carol Kane, Christopher Guest, Danitra Vance, Gwen Welles, Stephen McHattie, Shirley Stoler; D: Catlin Adams; W: Catlin Adams, Melanie Mayron; C: Gary Thieltges; M: Gary Chang. VHS, LV