Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Modern Girls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 19, 2015

Jerry Kramer's "Modern Girls" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Video. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film and an exclusive new video interview with actor Clayton Rohner. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

"I haven't felt so alive in years."

Margo (Daphne Zuniga, The Sure Thing), Cece (Cynthia Gibb, Youngblood), and Kelly (Virginia Madsen, The Hot Spot) are roommates and best friends who share everything -- sometimes even the boys they date -- but tonight Kelly has taken their car and left early.

When Kelly’s newest admirer, Clifford (Clayton Rohner, Just One of the Guys), a clueless but romantic nerd, comes looking for his date, Margo and Cece ask him to give them a ride to their favorite club in downtown LA. Feeling cheated, Clifford reluctantly agrees, and later on even ends up buying drinks for the girls. Then he orders one for Kelly, who can’t remember his name.

The three girls and the nerd couldn’t be any more different, but somehow decide to stay together throughout the entire night and visit some of the city’s most popular clubs. During their journey, they meet the punk star Bruno X (also played by Rohner), participate in a big fruit fight, barely dodge a group of horny drunks, and visit an underground Goth club where everyone seems obsessed with death.

Modern Girls takes place during the course of a single night and as strange as it may sound in a way it actually feels like an ‘80s pop answer to Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. Obviously, the era and the location are different so instead of famous piazze and elegant statues there are plenty of industrial buildings and vintage neon signs. However, plenty of the excess on display is just as amusing as the one witnessed in Fellini’s classic film. (The film even has its own big fountain scene).

The crowds are larger, noisier and a lot more colorful. In the clubs there are always people trying to get in and people leaving because they have discovered that there is a better party somewhere else. The only exception is the Goth club where the visitors look like they have not eaten in days and barely move.

While Kelly flirts with some odd but supposedly popular characters -- there is one DJ that looks so kooky that it is hard to believe that girls actually like him -- Cece falls madly in love with the slightly loopy Bruno X and Margo and Clifford kiss. Some feelings are hurt and then some honest words spoken, but by daybreak the friends are already planning their next night together.

The film can be very easy to dismiss if one expects it to deliver some serious observations about the LA club scene. Margo, Cece, Kelly, and Clifford are not some big symbolic characters whose behavior needs to be carefully observed so that one can gain a greater understanding of different trends and issues that defined the scene. The film’s one and only ambition is to place one right in the middle of the colorful chaos and then give one a chance to experience the unique atmosphere.

The acting is decent, but it is easy to tell that the actors are not trying to impress. While the camera follows them across the city, one gets the impression that they are simply having a great time and could not be happier that they are getting paid for it.

The film’s atmosphere is greatly enhanced by a top notch soundtrack featuring classic pop tunes by Depeche Mode (“But Not Tonight”), Chris Isaak (“Dancin’”), Club Nouveau (”Jealousy”), Icehouse (“No Promises”), and Toni Basil (“Girls Night Out”), amongst others.

Modern Girls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jerry Kramer's Modern Girls arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Video.

This film could have looked quite magnificent in high-definition if the original camera negative was scanned in 2K and a new master created for the Blu-ray release. It is a bit disappointing that this isn't the case, but I still think that the technical presentation is rather decent. Both detail and clarity could be better, but most close-ups with plenty of light look acceptable. During the darker footage, however, it is easy to see that shadow definition isn't as good as it should be (see screencapture #13). Contrast levels also could have been balanced better, but this is a limitation that seems to exist on a number of older masters. There are no traces of recent degraining adjustments. Grain is visible throughout the entire film, but it could be clumpy. Overall image stability is very good. Lastly, there are no large cuts or damage marks, but a few tiny specks and dirt marks can be spotted. All in all, there is no doubt that the Blu-ray is better than the R1 MOD DVD release, but it is obvious that there is plenty of room for sizable improvements. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Modern Girls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The quality of the audio is very good. The music plays a major part in the film and thankfully depth and clarity are excellent. There are no balance issues, but if the audio track is fully remastered some minor adjustments could be made. The dialog is always crisp, stable, and easy to follow. There are are no pops, cracks, background hiss, audio dropouts, or distortions to report in our review.

Modern Girls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview with Co-star Clayton Rohner - in this brand new video interview, actor Clayton Rohner (Clifford/Bruno X) recalls the shooting of Modern Girls and talks about the great time he had with Cynthia Gibb, Virginia Madsen, and Daphne Zuniga. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Modern Girls. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 480/60i).

Modern Girls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I loved every minute of Modern Girls. It is a bit silly at times, but it is one of the best '80s time capsules that I have seen. It has the right attitude, definitely the right soundtrack, and a cast to die for. The film received some really poor reviews when it was initially released, but it is clear now that the people that dismissed it simply did not know how to enjoy it. If you remember the '80s and miss them, consider adding Modern Girls to your collection. I am sure it will bring back some special memories for you. RECOMMENDED.