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Mona Lisa Smile

Girls can want more than to just have fun—or domestic bliss—in what some are mistaking as a female Dead Poet's Society. However, despite a few flaws, America's sweetheart's star package, Mona Lisa Smile is worthy of more credit than just a melodramatic carbon copy.

The queen of chick flicks, Julia Roberts stars as first year professor, Katherine Watson. Set in the 1953-54 school year, Katherine follows her dream to teach art history at Wellesley College, a conservative girls college located in what her Californian boyfriend calls an "icebox." With her fresh from the west progressive attitude, Katherine must take on a double-edged sword, higher education for women, in a time when most of America was just fine with females staying in the home. Hoping to offer her students a new perspective, it's not more than a little predictable that our heroine eventually faces her adversaries with both wit and charm. One such obstacle for Katherine is Betty Warren, played by Kirsten Dunst, in a startlingly unlikable role.

Betty is the first to marry, in the central group of seniors which the film focuses on. The daughter of a high society control-freak mother, at first it seems that Betty is just a bitch whose apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. She never hesitates to give her new professor hell (on several occasions, exhibiting her "special privileges" as a married student to ditch classes) and she bounces her insecurities off of the other girls, Joan (Julia Stiles), Giselle (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Connie (Ginnifer Goodwin). These characters are much more likable, but each in their own way. For instance, Joan is in love with a Harvard student, Tommy Donegal, played by Topher Grace ("That ‘70s Show"), and struggles to choose between engagement and submitting an application to Yale Law School. Giselle is the wild one who sleeps with her professor and doesn’t apologize for her unconventional behavior. Connie is an awkward, innocent and sweet musician, who doesn’t quite believe in herself. Given characters that in a lazy effort could have been cookie cutters, a major strength of the film is its ability to give the girls three dimensions. Betty isn't just a bitch, Joan's decision isn't as easy as it may seem, Giselle isn't your run of the mill slut and Connie's actually braver than we may think.

As the ringleader, Katherine goes through her own trials and tribulations both in and outside of the classroom. At first faced with more than she expected, then accused of "subversive" teaching techniques, it's only a matter of time before the idealist must decide how much of a beating she's willing to take, to make her dream come true.

Plenty of romance is woven throughout, but it's almost as if the screenwriters were trying to accomplish too much. Joan and Tommy are likable, Connie and her sweetheart are adorable, Betty and her husband are raw and sad, but Katherine’s love life lacks depth and dimension. Bill, a playboy Italian professor played by Dominic West, is a magnetic force with both Giselle and Katherine. And while brief, both Katherine's and Giselle's relationships with Paul fall shallow and short of explanation. Perhaps this is like real life, but the audience is left without a few answers.

True in its darkest moments and lighthearted in its softer ones, Mona Lisa Smile could have been perfect if parts of the storyline hadn't been glazed over. It's possible, though, that the writers simply gave the audience credit to decide for themselves. Because, fortunately, like the young women of the story, the audience can come away having learned more than a few lessons, and furthermore, are smarter because of it.

Written by: Maressa Brown

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 7.22
Reader's Votes: 13

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