MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Bar Girls’ Takes a Breezy Look at Gay Relationships

Nancy Allison Wolfe, a seasoned New York stage actress, lends a formidable presence to “Bar Girls,” a lively lesbian romantic comedy. Not conventionally beautiful but striking looking with a resemblance to Golden Era screen star Ann Dvorak, Wolfe has the energy, passion and temperament that enables her to hold together this endearing but minor film, adapted by Lauran Hoffman from her own play and directed by Marita Giovanni.

Few of the other actresses in the movie possess the talent and skill of Wolfe--and none has such a meaty part, so Wolfe’s contribution is crucial. She’s Loretta, co-writer of a TV cartoon series, whose brash, confident manner belies her vulnerability in her search for love. She seeks it, as do all the other women in the film, in an L.A. lesbian bar, where one evening she zeros in on an aspiring actress, Rachel (Liza D’Agostino, also a confident player), who looks so much like Rae Dawn Chong you check the credits to make sure she isn’t.

It’s the familiar instance of everything happening so quickly that these women have to go through a rough period of painful reappraisal to discover if they truly love each other. “Bar Girls” hasn’t the style, the quirky individuality or the assured ensemble portrayals of last year’s “Go Fish,” but it does have a number of great-looking, smartly dressed women in contrast to the women of the earlier film, most of whom seemed to take their fashion tips from Ethan Hawke.

“Bar Girls” touches upon the struggle lesbians have in mainstreaming their lifestyle--e.g., Loretta’s fight to get a lesbian character in her cartoon series rings all too true. It also suggests that in coping with the vicissitudes of romance, gays and straights are pretty much alike.

“Bar Girls” has a proud feminist spirit without being heavy-handed, and there’s a nice bantering, supportive quality in the relationship Loretta has with her male writing partner (played by Michael Harris with a light, easy touch). “Bar Girls” is breezy and upbeat but also takes emotions seriously.

* MPAA rating: R, for strong sexuality and language. Times guidelines: The movie has scenes of love-making, some nudity, much blunt language , some heavy drinking and adult themes.

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‘Bar Girls’ Nancy Allison Wolfe: Loretta Liza D’Agostino: Rachel Camilla Griggs: J.R. Michael Harris: Noah An Orion Classics Pictures release in association with Lauran Hoffman. Director Marita Giovanni. Producers Hoffman and Giovanni. Co-producer Doug Lindeman. Screenplay by Hoffman; based on her play. Cinematographer Michael Ferris. Editor Carter De Haven. Costumes Houston Sams. Music Denise Gentilini. Art directors Darryl Fong, Keith Brunsmann. Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes.

* At selected theaters.