Nowadays there is a trend of portraying protagonists in films as superficial and vapid; and indeed this is the way society seems to be going at the moment; shallowness as a defense mechanism, to cope with today's complex and confusing situations regarding sexuality, courtship, civil unrest, globalization, poverty, violent extremism etc. So no wonder that the new 'elite' of our age - like Harper and Allie - are totally impervious of showing any kind of empathy to the world at large (except a couple of kittens, before ditching them in a trash can) and not learning a thing during their turbulent 10 mile odyssey to Fort Tilden. But this make the movie very plausible - that in reality there is hardly any personality development at all in people. Most people are not Shakespearian figures with great redeeming qualities (unlike the typical Hollywood protagonist), but rather souls like Harper and Allie, being content in their self-centered world and convinced that they are people of the highest integrity, and not seeing any reason to change or reflect. But still, nonetheless, the relationship between the two is quite dynamic, and seems to even thrive due to the challenges they experience on their odyssey; they even become almost likable due to their vulnerability; like the funny scene at the beach when they compete with the two teen-age girls for the affection of the guys by letting their nude breasts hang out in a very unflattering light; ending in Harper's crude attempt of seduction, almost sexually assaulting the guy, who it turns out is still a minor...
Anyway, I cannot recommend this movie highly enough!
Anyway, I cannot recommend this movie highly enough!