Having graduated from High School, the two friends Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) leave provincial Tucson and move in together into an apartment in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Blessed with rather more naiveté and awkwardness than intelligence, they move around in their own little universe, in which matters of weighty importance include what to wear to the disco, and the next diet. One of their favourite occupations is watching a particular sequence from Pretty Woman. Then one day, Romy spots her old fellow pupil Heather (Janeane Garofalo), and learns of a planned reunion. The friends decide to go to the party, even though they were obviously deliberately not invited.

But first they peruse the old yearbook and indulge in reminiscences. Michele, who, in her school days was forced to wear an unsightly support corset, and Romy were favourite targets for their fellow pupils' mockery and snide remarks. The two were outsiders, not least because of their conspicuous and unusual dress sense. Romy was head over heels in love with Billy (Vincent Ventresca), who had himself fallen, hook, line and sinker, for High School beauty Christie (Julia Campbell). For her part, Michele was idolised by the rather dim Sandy (Alan Cumming). Although these were not all happy memories, the girls are in agreement: they will go.

Before that, however, there are a few shortcomings to be ironed out. Superfluous pounds have to be shed, new exciting jobs found and, naturally, a presentable male creature. When all their attempts fail, they decide to serve up a pack of lies to their former fellow pupils, and pretend to be two successful business women. But fate takes its course...

• Unfortunately, this story is about as stimulating as chewing gum. Some of the dialogue is superfluous, some plain stupid. Julia Campbell's Christie is inexpressive and flat. Although her incompetence and obvious stupidity are part of the concept of the film, they are not convincing. The translation of Romy and Michele's story into film is as superficial as their lives. Witty sequences, like the vision of the future in a dream sequence, are nipped in the bud. The only positive aspect of the film is Janeane Garofalo, who had her debut as Winona Ryder's flatmate in Reality Bites.

This film is rather like one of the more toe-curling cheap TV movies that keep getting produced, and if you are not a fan of these – be warned!

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