Bobbies Girl

Plot

Bobbie Langham (Rachel Ward) and Bailey Lewis (Bernadette Peters) are life partners who own and run a pub together in Dublin, Ireland, aided by Baileys brother, David Lewis (Jonathan Silverman). Bobbie discovers that she has breast cancer, and is determined to deal with the crisis on her own. Meanwhile, the parents of Bobbies 10-year-old nephew Alan Langham (Thomas Sangster) have been killed, and Bailey talks a reluctant Bobbie into taking him in. Bobbie and Bailey are opposites—Bobbie the cool, quiet, reserved, practical one; Bailey warm, outgoing and eccentric (and a former actress). As Bobbie undergoes treatment for her illness she finally agrees to accept Baileys help. In turn, Bailey takes over the management of the pub and takes care of Bobbie, growing more responsible.

In the end, Bobbie learns to express her love for Alan and accepts him into the extended "family", much to Baileys delight. A "wedding-commitment" ceremony between Bobbie and Bailey, attended by family and friends, solidifies the womens commitment to each other.

Production

The movie was filmed in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. This film reunites Peters with director Jeremy Kagan, who directed her in the Faerie Tale Theatre TV movie Sleeping Beauty.

Reception

The Gannett News Service review noted that the first part of the film "is truly wonderful. Even when the story becomes contrived, well forgive it instantly." It is "skillfully written..and directed" and "Peters character, in particular, is warm, ditzy and delightful." The CNN.com reviewer wrote that the "story is as sketchy and unconvincing as Baileys theatrical resume." The Grand Rapid Press reviewer wrote that it is a "charming tale of two women who run a pub", and that "Peters is her usual eccentric, curly-haired self. And Ward, who could be the U.K. twin of "West Wings" Allison Janney, is letter perfect as the deep-voiced, rather severe Bobbie." The Daily Variety reviewer wrote that the movie is "all character and situation and no plot", and that "Kagan never quite finds the pixilated sensibility the work seems to need, while writer Samuel Bernstein strains for a climax. The one thing "Bobbies Girl" does have going for its subdued treatment of the lesbian relationship - these characters dont need to be lesbians for any plot point, they just are." The Houston Chronicle noted that this is "An Irish co-production, Bobbies Girl was filmed in Ireland, a fine and proper setting for the whimsical free-spiritedness it aims to project."

Awards and nominations