MovieChat Forums > Confessions of a Go-Go Girl (2008) Discussion > Found this movie unbelievable

Found this movie unbelievable

posted 16 years ago by lakealice
18 replies | jump to latest

I thought this was a stupid movie. What's wrong with parents willing to pay so a daughter can get a good education? It didn't have to be law school. The movie made it look like this was a terrible imposition on her. How many people get that chance? However, the girl showed she wasn't really interested in acting either until she went back to it at the end. There are other ways to show independence or to make money without going to the extreme of degrading and selling oneself. The fact that she did implies that she must have had psychological problems, but that was never explored in the movie. So there was really no motivation for her actions--she just seemed like a spoiled and dumb girl to me [albeit very pretty], and the movie was just an excuse for a lot of raunchy dance scenes. And what was wrong with the scene she did in acting class so that the teacher had to come down on her so hard? Nothing. Another thing that was hard to believe were the heart-of-gold characters--the manager of the first go-go club who gave advice on how to be more provocative , as if he was a kindly old soul, and the older dancer who sewed the girl's see-through costumes and gave advice on how to reel the men in --compared to the girl's family and boyfriend who were supposed to be too uptight. Actually, even though they needed to loosen up a little,the latter really cared about her. I say stick with them.

[–] cubearcub 16 years ago

You obviously haven't really lived in the real world have you? How old are you or what shell are you living under?

I know lots of WASPY families whose parents will not pay for school unless it's a "legitimate" career or degree. Acting, well actors are a dime a dozen and it's tough profession. Why pay thousands of dollars just so she can audition the rest of her life? I can see why her parents were a bit upset, but they were actually pretty snotty.

However, the fact that she didn't apply for financial aid, was kind of unbelieveable. If the school was accredited and legitimate degree or certificate seeking school, she would at least be eligible for loans.

The fact that she became a stripper doesn't mean she has psychological problems Or low self-esteem. I know a few professionals i.e. lawyers and doctors who paid for their undergraduate and professional school through dancing. No joke. I can see where she got caught up in the "rush" plus if all I had to do was dance and make $1000 a night and not feel any shame, why not? At least that place wasn't completely naked. Besides she came from a pretty sheltered life and was experiencing new and exciting things. The only problem I had was the fact that she was still friends with that cokehead Angela. She should have dumped her like a bad habit. I would never have moved in with her. Especially after seeing her doing coke the FIRST time!

As far as the workers at the first club. There are some strip club owners who do have a heart as well as other employees. They know the dangers of the business and have been around it for a while. Stripping, while not a well-respected profession, doesn't have to be trashy or necessarily degrading. It's a business and if there weren't horny idiots who like to spend money on a girl they can't take home, then that's their fault. It's sad that people get a thrill of this business, but that's the way it is. And if a woman or a man can feel like they have power over these losers to pay them money to "dance" mroe power to them. It's just how it works.

[–] mer7 16 years ago

The fact that SHE became a stripper implies psychological problems. I don't think that stripping is degrading or selling oneself in any way, but I do think that the way THIS girl got into dancing was a way to overcome her psychological problems. The first acting school scene, we learn that she doesn't like to be stared at. When she creates this new persona, she deals with her fear. Angela talks her into dancing because "it's like getting daddy's attention at the dinner table." Angela talks her into going to the bachelor party and doing some pretty raunchy unsupervised dancing. I think the problem with the movie, in my eyes, was the fact that they tried to show that every woman would fall down the scary path. It was just Jane that was too psychologically damaged to be able to handle the pressure of a job (not even full time) and school-a task that many thousands, perhaps millions of people are able to handle.

[–] cubearcub 16 years ago

Mer-Why do you think she had psychological problems? Because she's educated and comes from a rich family? The new persona is what all actors have to do regardless. That comment about "getting daddy's attention" was kinda creepy, but whatever it worked for the typical formula of a Lifetime movie.

But this thing could happen to anyone. Remember it's a movie. Most of the stuff probably wouldn't have happened anyways. But this girl probably was tired of living off mommy and daddy and wanted to prove that she could do it on her own. And she did. She just didn't tell them how she was doing it. What's even sadder is that her dad and brother came to the "high class" strip club (if that's not an oxymoron, I'm not sure what is) I totally called that at the beginning of the movie. I knew that she'd see someone she knew there.

But seriously, there are more people than you think, that do naughty things. Not even for the money, they just are naughty, but keep it to themselves. Doesn't mean they have problems, they just have a naughty side to them.

[–] taggertjc 15 years ago

I agree. And it wasn't just that she was tired of living off mommy and daddy, they were using lack of funds to control her, punish her. And the funny thing is that nowadays, there is such a surplus of lawyers, it's difficult for many of them to get articling positions, so being a lawyer isn't as difficult as being an actor, but these days, it's getting close.

So the parental units cut her off completely, demeaned her choice of career, and chided her about "rocking the boat" when she didn't want to skip school.

And it wasn't the money, it was parents manipulating her through lack of funds. Poverty can be a prison. And with those two turning the thumbscrews is it any wonder she made a drastic decision to finally give her freedom. I mean, her brother and his fiancee are visiting and her dad has to put her on the spot and say "Don't forget, you still owe us some money." Nice.

And then her brother, her dad and her boyfriend go to a strip club. She's crucified for working there? What about the perverts that frequent those clubs. Think the word hypocrit applies.

[–] GrownUpKid 15 years ago

Totally agree about how hypocritical and manipulative her loved ones were.

Still got my fingers crossed, waiting for Judas Contract to get green-lit

[–] taggertjc 15 years ago

But what's ironic is how her brother reacts at the end: "She made her bed, blah, blah, blah. And he's suppose to be a therapist? That profession must have just sang out to him.

You have eternity. I have only now.

[–] TANSD76 11 years ago

That drove me crazy. I know you shouldn't expect logic from Lifetime movies, or undeveloped characters but they said he was a respected psychologist in town to give a talk at his old school or something. He tells his sister (in the rudest tone possible, not as though he's actually concerned about her welfare) that he'll find a professional to talk to about her psychological issues. And then he shows a complete lack of sympathy/empathy as you noted.

[–] NickiDrea 15 years ago

And the funny thing is that nowadays, there is such a surplus of lawyers, it's difficult for many of them to get articling positions, so being a lawyer isn't as difficult as being an actor, but these days, it's getting close.

Ummm... as a practicing lawyer, I just wanted to say that I completely disagree with this statement.

I can tell you that there are too many "general practice" lawyers- that is, lawyers who don't specialize in anything.

There are not nearly enough public defenders, district attorneys, patent lawyers, environmental lawyers, low-income civil lawyers,etc.

If you think that being a lawyer is easier than being an actor, you need to try my job for one day. I think you might hold a very different opinion.

"Proud to be a Philly PD!!!"

[–] taggertjc 15 years ago

NickDrea, when I wrote 'being a lawyer isn't as difficult as being an actor, but these days, it's getting close' I didn't mean the actual job. With the economic downturn especially, I have several friends (and acquaintances) who are finding it extremely difficult to get articling positions. The main point I was making is that there seems to be a surplus of lawyers coming out of law school and it's making it very difficult for new lawyers to get started. The lawyers I've spoken to agree with this.

Perhaps the employment situation where you are is different from where I am. I have no way of knowing.

At absolutely NO time did I think or have I EVER thought being a lawyer is easier than being an actor. That is completely and utterly ludicrous.

You have eternity. I have only now.

[–] NickiDrea 15 years ago

I know a few professionals i.e. lawyers and doctors who paid for their undergraduate and professional school through dancing.

This would surprise me (about lawyers). when you apply for admission to the Bar, you have to meet moral and character requirements in every state. You can get turned away from the Bar for really strange reasons (bad credit, cheating in college, being involved in too many lawsuits). A lot,maybe even most, state bars would refuse to admit a former stripper to the Bar. And if you lie on your Bar application and it is discovered, even late in your career, you can be suspended or even disbarred.

"Proud to be a Philly PD!!!"

[–] nutsberryfarm 14 years ago

i agree. doesn't make sense. that would a ton of dancing to pay for law school. law school is way expensive.

-----------
It's okay, honey. I...I was just talking to the cornfield.

[–] jbowmore 14 years ago

College aged girls can make a lot of money stripping. If they really are going to university while stripping—and they make it through school without anyone finding out what they did for money—than why would they disclose that to the bar or a potential employer.

The part I actually found the least realistic, was that the second club—where Jane's father saw her—was not even topless. (the dialog established that only the sleazy third club was topless)

According to this film gentleman's clubs are either very nice with no nudity, or complete dives with nudity. Both of those types of clubs exist, but so would the ones in between.

[–] sfnprincess81 14 years ago

In response to the OP, while Jane's family was particularly unsympathetic (especially her brother, who was a self-righteous jerk) the fact that they didn't want to pay for her acting school is not surprising. I was considering a theater major, but my mother flat out said that she wouldn't pay for college if that's what I was thinking of doing (although she later relented). And my family is middle class; it's not just in upper class families.

To be fair, I can understand the reasoning. Besides the "lack of prestige" getting an acting gig is extremely difficult, regardless of talent. Struggling actors/singers/dancers wait for years before they get discovered, usually trapped in lousy jobs in the meantime.

As for her theater coach dropping her, that's normal. Unlike high school, college professors have the right to drop the student from the class because their performance/work is lacking. Acting teachers are the same, if not worse. If you're faking a performance, trust me, they know. Jane's focus wasn't on her career, it was on her dancing. In her class, she was just putting Dylan on the stage, not herself. Her teacher could see that. Since Jane was wasting her time and the class' time, she got dropped. Simple.

[–] TANSD76 11 years ago

I think the acting was one of the worst parts of the story. There's a very typical plot structure at the heart of this story that rests on that last big redeeming performance. It's usually a big dance number or song that closes the movie. I thought her showcase performance was mediocre at best.

[–] TANSD76 11 years ago

The movie didn't really have a good grasp on its message. Showing the difference between all the places where they danced allowed the movie to escalate the drama/danger but it sent a somewhat confused message about go-go dancing. So, it would have been perfectly alright if she had stayed at the club and as long as they eliminated the subplot with her friend's cocaine habit, nothing bad would have happened? It especially didn't make sense for the high-end club to be worse than the first club. They changed the lighting and the music and tried to make her seem more vulnerable to set her up for the confrontation with her relatives/S.O. but other than those tricks I never got the sense that the girls working there were "hard core". I don't think the movie had a point and I agree with the OP that it was just a bad excuse for all the dancing. Sometimes I don't know who the audience is supposed to be for these Lifetime movies.

[–] Taylorfirst1 11 years ago

I agree. It seems like men end up being the audience for some of these Lifetime movies. Especially a movie like this one. You know a lot of men saw this movie just to see the dancing.

[–] michaltastik 10 years ago

I think the audience for this is supposed to e 40 something women from Waspy backgrounds. This is so they can feel good about that fact that they didn't try to pursue acting, but instead went with what their parents wanted and they got married. This way they'll feel like if they had tried to act, they would have ended up dead and on coke so they made the right choice.

Really most girls who do stuff like that didn't come from homes like that with things like law school as an option. Girls who strip chose between stripping, bartending, waitressing, hair school and CNA. Those are the kinds of jobs the girls where I grew up do now. The other side of my school district was waspy and those girls stayed in the waspy zone. When WASPy girls or even Jewish well to do girls try to make it on their own, they run back to their parents because it's too hard to maintain the life they grew up with.

[–] killer_tacos 12 years ago

she was tired of being controlled by her parents