Kimberly

In the fall of 1998, in Philadelphia, we started production on a $2mil film that created a new Murphy's Law - "The Kimberly Effect". Things went wrong due to the general ineptness,politely called inexperience, of an odd crew led by the usual Los Angeles cast of meglomaniacal above the line people. This was particularly amusing because if they weren't Europeans, they were Isralis - how do they learn a second language, figure out who to "lunch" with and become the aspiring arbitrars of American pop culture? The only answer - the Kimberly Effect. Last month I got to see this film projected at the Houston International Film Festival, introduced by director Frederic Golchan, who walked right by me 4 or 5 times without recognition, even though in Philadelphia he gave me champagne. Product placement, but champagne none the less. He was busy being schmoozed by the festival folks, so I did not bother him. Amazingly, this picture was sweet and funny and made Philadelphia look beautiful - no small feat. Gabrielle Anwar and Chris Rydell had great chemistry, and people laughed in all the right places. A model turned actor was the only weak link in the cast, and he's so attractive no one else at the theatre seemed to notice. The music was lovely, and all in all, it was a pleasant bit of entertainment. I kept waiting for the film to break, the theatre to burn, the popcorn to spill, but nothing happened. The Kimberly Effect was over. I hope they sell the movie.

Kimberly,, a movie of comedy, love, and hardship. This is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and get that warm feeling in your heart. The first time I saw it I didn't even get up to go to the bathroom, and I had to go very bad. The movie is not meant for manly men, it is a "chik-flick".But a damn good one! It is one of those films that wants to make you laugh and cry at the same time, with a happy ending that makes you happy. Gabrielle Anwar is an exeptional actor along with the rest of the cast! Girls, this is defineately a movie to go rent!!!!!

I recently saw this movie on Lifetime, It is about a woman who is a rowing coach to 4 men, she becomes pregnant and the 4 men wonder if they are the father to her child as they have all had a "relationship" with her. The characters are totally unbelivable. The men "change" when they think they may be dads, example a man takes up crocheting a blanket. At the end of the movie she finally tells the men which one is the dad, of course all the men are in the delivery room. The movie tries some humor that is just not funny... men rushing around like morons when they get the page that she is in labor. I found the story line completely pointless and a complete waste of time. Along with some bad acting!

I like to have someone to root for,even in a romantic comedy. For the first half of this picture, I didn't have that. The woman was a player, the men were either obnoxious idiots, or disengaged losers, and there was little character development to most of them.

That's why I clicked out of netflix at the halfway point. But I wound up giving it another chance the next day and watched the second half. OK, it redeemed itself. Just barely, but I'll give it some credit.

I liked the concept: Four grown buddies who bond over rowing on the Delware River and find both love and themselves.Philadelphia looked absolutely great, if that's where it was actually filmed.

There were some questionable morality issues, but they resolved themselves for the most part by the end.

Sean Astin was his usual self. Not much of a stretch there. If you like his general routine, you will like him here. (Carefree, blue collar, slovenly, short guy) Gabrielle Anwar is about 7 years past her prime beauty era from Scent of a Woman and For Love or Money. Now she is also speaking in a British accent, which I think is her normal voice. (she played Americans in those other two films) In this film, she is at times wiry, and shows her age in terms of forehead wrinkles and some anguished facial expressions toward the end. Nevertheless, she is appealing, and you can understand why the guys like her.

I liked the last scene very much. Without spoiling it, you see that the men have found their piece of the happiness pie.

She is all of 29 as this movie was released but often looks 10 years younger! It's pleasant to see her using her real accent too.

This movie about 'senior' (mature) men's rowing does include some worthwhile details of the sport but most of the time the teams are just idling and Kimberly as coxswain is usually at the point of picking up their pace.

Perhaps less well known is that the competition rowing season does indeed take place in autumn - which means these rowers are going out in November in Philadelphia (about 35-40 degrees in the early morning). Many movies won't want that considered! - but despite being close to the water it's not a spring/summer sport!

Another cute detail - Gabrielle Anwar is probably barely over 100 lbs so I'd wonder why these guys aren't racing 4+1 (4 plus coxswain) instead of 4-man only. The cox is usually team/boat coach anyway and her weight couldn't affect them that much!