At the end of Mona Lisa Smile, the first words out of my mouth were "Sentimental Codswallop," spoken in New England snob. Here is a movie many may dismiss as a female Dead Poets movie where a Californian hippy--Julia Roberts--foists her beliefs and values on the educated elitist women of Wellesley. Roberts' character is Miss Katharine Watson, and she wants her art history students to use their college education to become more than spectacular housewives. Rumor has it the story is based on the experiences of Hilary Clinton.

        Set in 1953, the movie alternates between the aforementioned codswallop, and an interesting period piece that lays out the options that women of my generation did not see as either/or choices, rather we naturally understood that we would have career and family, and somehow just juggle everything.

        If Miss Watson is somewhat stereotypical as the feminist professor, she pales in comparison to the frightful snobbery of Kirsten Dunst and Julia Stiles, who attend one of America's finest schools to get their M.R.S. The B.A. is secondary. Then there's Maggie Gyllenhaal, the child of divorced parents who has discarded the happy families myth and wants to explore other options.

        For the most part Mona Lisa Smile wanders aimlessly around a year in the life of these four essential characters. There is a no central all consuming narrative thread other than the interesting, if somewhat predictable, issues that crop up as Katherine demonstrates to her snobs just what living your own life might look like.

        I really enjoyed the film. I guess it's because I felt some relief that Julia Roberts has finally found a role other than a romantic heroine with big teeth. And I was relieved to see a movie all about women.

        However, I found myself smiling that the men in this movie are stereotypical jerks. There's the well meaning but dominating control freak boyfriends, wielding wedding rings like claustrophobic trophies, wear it and you forego all else. There's the cheating husband, and the lying philandering professor, educating his students in ways not approved in the curriculum.

        And once I started gazing, I couldn't help but chuckle at Julia Roberts' fellow spinster teachers--one still desperately pining for the fella who jilted her, and the other who had given up men to bat for the other team. And, of course, Julia, who wants it all in her own terms. At best, Mona Lisa Smile is an interesting conversation piece for the history of women in education. At worst, it is sentimental codswallop.

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