Bobbie’s Girl bit off more than it could chew, dramatically speaking. The major premise of the film was already some lesbians acquiring a child. More than enough drama to fill a full movie. But then they throw a cancer subplot on top of that! These lesbians sure have a lot of problems to deal with in only 95 minutes.
Bobbie’s Girl begins with scatterbrained ex-Broadway star, Bailey receiving a phone call. The call tells her that her partner, Bobbie is now the custodian of her brother’s child after an accident killed him and his wife. Bobbie isn’t around to take the call because of cancer reasons. So, Bailey goes to retrieve the child, Alan. But suddenly being caregivers challenges Bobbie and Bailey’s dynamic. Bailey is irresponsible and immature. Bobbie fears truly committing to Bailey. Both have fears over whether or not their lifestyle is the best to raise a child in. Plus, of course, Bobbie has breast cancer.
Bobbie and Bailey learning to care for a child is the best aspect of the film. Plus, Bobbie and Bailey offer an outsider’s perspective on childcare that’s refreshing. There’s a great moment where Bobbie is unimpressed with Alan’s school desiring to make him into a little English gentleman. These lesbians don’t love the idea of raising a child on outdated British, masculine ideals. The shame with Bobbie’s cancer subplot is that it often removes her from the childcare subplot. Really, these two lesbians with different world views having to parent a child is enough for this movie. I can’t express enough how little the breast cancer plot brought to the proceedings.
If you’re a fan of additional subtext, I think the movie is improved if you interpret trans subtext. Alan has enough gender non-conforming moments that makes this character easy to read as a child who isn’t or won’t be cisgender. Alan reads The Female Eunuch, and takes to playing a female role in a play with little complaint. He also says that at one point his family thought he was a girl but things got less tense once it was established he was a boy. During an emotional breakdown, he also screams about how nobody sees him. If you accept a trans reading, it makes the situation hit harder. Alan finds himself in an environment with caregivers much more likely to accept any gender non-conforming aspects with support and acceptance. Despite the darkness that brought Alan here, there is a bright and accepting future with Bobbie and Bailey.
Because Bobbie’s Girl is a TV movie, there’s sort of a cap to how good it can be. It’s perfectly fine and all. But I’ve seen very, very few movies that transcend good into great. Bobbie’s Girl is not an exception to that rule. There’s not enough ambition to the writing and especially not to the directing. The story is a little too linear and everything ties up a little too neatly. Stylistic flourishes are rare here. Again, it’s a perfectly serviceable script given serviceable directing. But there’s no artistic trademark from either writer or director. I watched Bobbie’s Girl on my tiny iPod nano screen. I didn’t feel like I missed anything by doing so. It’s mostly talking and not particularly visually interesting.
Bobbie’s Girl is perfectly fine. It’s a competent TV movie that’s dated somewhat in its 20 years since release. I don’t have any abject negatives about the film. But I can’t bring myself to be passionately in its favour either. Bobbie’s Girl is just a nice movie that wants to show that lesbians can parent a child. Cool. Would love to see that with some more ambitious cinematography.
Overall rating: 6.1/10
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