Foxes (1980)

This film, the debut of future hit-making director Adrian Lyne, is long on atmosphere but short on story. Gerald Ayres' script manages to be frank about the desires and social excesses of its young protagonists without becoming exploitative but its episodic approach saps the story of much of its dramatic potential. It also loses track of its characters as it tries to juggle an array of subplots. For instance, Kandace Stroh's character disappears halfway through the film only to abruptly reappear at the finale. The best element of Foxes is the acting: All the female leads give natural, believable performances, the standouts being Foster as the group's den-mother and Currie as the beautiful but doomed problem child of the group. Sally Kellerman also does some memorable work as Foster's caring but neurotic and selfishly immature mother. Sadly, the story gives these interesting characters nowhere to go and gets bogged in soap opera melodramatics as it nears its finish. As a result, Foxes is more successful as a time capsule of early '80s teen culture in Los Angeles than it is as a drama. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide