Mike Newell's drama explores buttoned-down mores in the corseted '50s. Julia Roberts' boho lecturer arrives at screwed-tight Wellesley College, determined to challenge her pupils' perceptions. They aspire to being perfect housewives, while Julia wants them to be doctors and lawyers.
Unavoidably dubbed the female Dead Poets Society upon its theatrical release, Newell's drama comes with sugar-coated sexual politics and stereotypes behind every school desk - slut, brain, chubster, princess. Full credit to the luminescent cast, then, the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal doing a fine job of preserving the flower of Atomic-Age womanhood.
DVD Extras:
Worthiness goes a long way in the three historical featurettes dealing with art, college life and sexual conventions. They're dust-dry, but better than the usual backslapping Making Ofs. A sickly Elton John vid and trailers round out what's ultimately a mediocre package.
