Zoe Movie Review

Think of it as Stand by She.

This all-female road movie/coming-of-age movie improves dramatically on the last attempt at this genre -- the Britney Spears vehicle Crossroads -- but unfortunately once Zoe (Vanessa Zima) loses her punk friends and hooks up with a British woman named Cecilia (Jenny Seagrove) and her cremated mother, the film loses some of its luster.

What's originally a cautionary tale about abusive families and highschool ritualism becomes a muddy story involving American Indian mysticism and the search for meaning in Cecilia's mother's life. It gets talky -- even preachy -- and by the end you're longing for Britney to bust out a musical number.

Zima is a real talent that has gotten far too little work in the last decade. Zoe is her first leading role and it's unfortunate that few people will really ever see it. Because if anyone is able to cut through the schmaltz and the syrup, it's her. Give this girl some work, Hollywood!