Katie Steele (Ari Graynor, who looks like a young Bette Midler) lives in a fabulous, rent-controlled apartment in Gramercy Park (it used to be her Grandma, or “Bubbie’s”, apartment). Unfortunately, the control part of rent-control is over and she is about to be homeless. Lauren Powell (Lauren Miller, aka Mrs. Seth Rogen) is suddenly single after her long-time boyfriend Charlie (James Wolk) dumps her unceremoniously and goes to Italy to work for the summer. Lauren is about to be homeless too.
Enter Jesse (Justin Long), a mutual friend to both girls. He offers the girls a wonderful solution – Lauren can move in with Katie and pay half the rent, then Katie can keep her apartment and neither girl will end up homeless. There is only one problem – the girls hate each other. See, there was an incident ten years earlier, during their college days, and since then they have been enemies. However, since they really have no other choice, they decide on a trial – Lauren can live with Katie for the summer and they’ll see how it goes.
At first, the girls do not get along. Then something happens that changes everything. One of Katie’s jobs is working for a phone-sex line. Since she works for another company, she doesn’t make much money. When Lauren finds out about Katie’s job, she encourages her to start her own phone-sex company, called 1-800-MMM-HMMM. Katie works the phones and Lauren handles the billing. When Lauren’s attempts to get a new job at a publishing company (she was let go a few weeks ago) fail, she decides to stop being boring and try her hand at working the phones with Katie. Armed with their pink phones, the girls bond while talking dirty with their customers. Lauren even helps Katie with an issue with her new boyfriend (he was a former client).
Overall, it was much better than I expected. Although it was predictable, it was still a fun ride. This is definitely a great chick flick. I liked Justin Long’s performance as their gay best friend. Watch for humorous cameos from some of the callers, including a pilot who requests a three-way call and uses a lot of pilot terminology during his session. Also, due to the overtly sexual nature of the film I would highly recommend leaving the kids at home. Unless you want to answer a lot of questions about giant dildos, orgasms, and general sex stuff.
[My experience: at the screening I attended, a family was sitting behind me (in the press section, even though they were NOT press) and they had a young child with them, I would say around 2 or 3 years old. Well the child was being very disruptive. When the man in charge asked the parents to take the child out of the theater, the father became belligerent and security had to come escort him out of the theater. Luckily the mother took the child out of the theater (while it was screaming) and then it was nice and quiet behind me. Later I found out the cops were called to deal with the jerk. SO, be a parent and not a paraint and leave the kids at home, ok?? I and the other people in the theater thank you.]
