This film chronicles the struggles of a teenager in Hell's Kitchen. The neighborhood isn't a bad setting for a film, or even an uncommon one. Though perhaps not advertised as much, Daredevil was set there, as was Sleepers. What you do with the setting is what matters, and they didn't do much with this one.
Claude (short for Claudia) is trying to find herself, and her best friend Ellen is helping - until Ellen finds Mark. Mark takes Ellen's time, and also seems to have a problem with the fact that Claude and Ellen sleep in the same bed, both literally and figuratively. Then things really take a turn for the worse when it seems that Mark may have killed Claude's new friend, Luke.
So Claude meets Lucy, who has her own band (a real band, not just a band that plays together in their bedroom like Claude and Ellen), and they of course grow closer together, which drives a wedge even further between Claude and Ellen. And then one day, the police show up to pick up Mark for Luke's murder. So Claude and Lucy live happily ever after, Mark presumably rots in prison and Ellen hates Claude.
Even better, it all happens at a snails pace. Thankfully we have Tivo, so 90 minutes took about 20. I don't think we missed much. Like Sunset Strip, but a lot less interesting (and that is saying quite a bit).
Rated R for sexuality and drug use involving teen girls, and for strong language. There is also some violence, but most is implied. You'll want to keep the kids away, but they likely won't be interested anyway. There's nothing to see here.
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