"Hurlyburly" review

Hurlyburly (1998)

Directed by Anthony Drazan
Writing credits David Rabe

Sean Penn .... Eddie
Kevin Spacey .... Mickey
Robin Wright Penn .... Darlene
Chazz Palminteri .... Phil
Garry Shandling .... Artie
Anna Paquin .... Donna
Meg Ryan .... Bonnie

Sean Penn and friends are hanging out in a pretty nice house in Hollywood, getting stoned and having loooonnnnnng conversations about nothing. Massive amounts of drugs will loosen the lips. Or is it a Hollywood thing to babble on and on? It's all hurlyburly gobbledygook.

There is no plot. There are just Hollywood types hating themselves and taking drugs. The first thirty minutes was good. The conversation Penn has with Spacey about his girlfriend was hilarious. It starts in the morning and continues until they get home that night. The Hollywood players sort out their lives with drugs and alcohol while coming to grips with the fact that they are all pretty miserable people.

The talking never stops in this movie. I was drowning in inane chatter. There is only so much babbling I can take. "Hurlyburly" exploded way past my limit. There were a few funny scenes at the beginning but "Hurlyburly" eventually chokes to death with its non-stop group catharsis session.

SCORE: 2.5 out of 4 burnt out Hollywood players