Bad Girls

Starring: Madeline Stowe, Andie McDowell, Mary Stuart Masterson, Drew Barrymore It's almost amazing how bad this picture is. Poorly conceived, badly written, and with slovenly direction, it comes across as a nearly laughable attempt to tell a story about the empowerment of these old west babes. The forces behind this third-rate effort seem to have abandoned all notion of plot and character in favor of a few boring slow-motion scenes and the spectacle of four really attractive women stalking around in tight pants (which, in reality, is about the only reason to see the picture). Every time they attempt to step outside this paradigm they fall flat on their collective faces. In so doing, they betray their stars, who simply cannot do anything with this viscous material. Stowe (who could probably give acting lessons to the other cast members) does bring some sparks to the screen, and is the only one of the bunch who emerges with her reputation intact. The other three are reduced to pathetic, glowering (or giggling, as the case may be) caricatures. But they are good looking.(4/27/94)