Bobbie's Girl
Encyclopedia
Bobbie's Girl is a 2002 comedy-drama television movie about two women leading a comfortable, quiet life running a pub in Dublin who are suddenly confronted with a series of health and family crises. (PG-13)
) and Bailey Lewis (Bernadette Peters
) are life partners who own and run a pub together in Dublin, Ireland
, aided by Bailey's brother, David Lewis (Jonathan Silverman
). Bobbie discovers that she has breast cancer, and is determined to deal with the crisis on her own. Meanwhile, the parents of Bobbie's 10-year old nephew Alan Langham (Thomas Sangster
) have been killed, and Bailey talks a reluctant Bobbie into taking him in. Bobbie and Bailey are opposites—Bobbie the cool, quiet, reserved, practical one; Bailey warm, outgoing and eccentric (and a former actress). As Bobbie undergoes treatment for her illness she finally agrees to accept Bailey's help. In turn, Bailey takes over the management of the pub and takes care of Bobbie, growing more responsible.
In the end, Bobbie learns to express her love for Alan and accepts him into the extended "family", much to Bailey's delight. A "wedding-commitment" ceremony between Bobbie and Bailey, attended by family and friends, solidifies the women's commitment to each other.
, County Wicklow, Ireland. This film reunites Peters with director Jeremy Kagan, who directed her in the Faerie Tale Theatre TV movie Sleeping Beauty
.
Plot
Bobbie Langham (Rachel WardRachel Ward
Rachel Claire Ward, AM is a British actress, columnist, film director, and screenwriter who has primarily pursued her career in Australia.-Early life:...
) and Bailey Lewis (Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
) are life partners who own and run a pub together in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, aided by Bailey's brother, David Lewis (Jonathan Silverman
Jonathan Silverman
-Personal life:Silverman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Devora and Hillel Emanuel Silverman, a rabbi. He is the grandson of famous Conservative Rabbi Morris Silverman. David Schwimmer was his best friend in high school. He is married to actress Jennifer Finnigan who he briefly co...
). Bobbie discovers that she has breast cancer, and is determined to deal with the crisis on her own. Meanwhile, the parents of Bobbie's 10-year old nephew Alan Langham (Thomas Sangster
Thomas Sangster
Thomas Brodie Sangster is an English film and television actor, best known for his roles in Love Actually, Nanny McPhee, The Last Legion, and voice of Ferb Fletcher in Phineas and Ferb.-Personal life:...
) have been killed, and Bailey talks a reluctant Bobbie into taking him in. Bobbie and Bailey are opposites—Bobbie the cool, quiet, reserved, practical one; Bailey warm, outgoing and eccentric (and a former actress). As Bobbie undergoes treatment for her illness she finally agrees to accept Bailey's help. In turn, Bailey takes over the management of the pub and takes care of Bobbie, growing more responsible.
In the end, Bobbie learns to express her love for Alan and accepts him into the extended "family", much to Bailey's delight. A "wedding-commitment" ceremony between Bobbie and Bailey, attended by family and friends, solidifies the women's commitment to each other.
Production
The movie was filmed in BrayBray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
, County Wicklow, Ireland. This film reunites Peters with director Jeremy Kagan, who directed her in the Faerie Tale Theatre TV movie Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty (Faerie Tale Theatre episode)
Sleeping Beauty is the 5th episode of the television anthology Faerie Tale Theatre. The story is adapted from the classic fairytale of Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm and stars Bernadette Peters as the title character.-Plot:...
.
Reception
The Gannett News Service review noted that the first part of the film "is truly wonderful. Even when the story becomes contrived, we'll forgive it instantly." It is "skillfully written..and directed" and "Peters' character, in particular, is warm, ditzy and delightful." The CNN.com reviewer wrote that the "story is as sketchy and unconvincing as Bailey's theatrical resume." The Grand Rapid Press reviewer wrote that it is a "charming tale of two women who run a pub", and that "Peters is her usual eccentric, curly-haired self. And Ward, who could be the U.K. twin of "West Wing's" Allison Janney, is letter perfect as the deep-voiced, rather severe Bobbie." The Daily Variety reviewer wrote that the movie is "all character and situation and no plot", and that "Kagan never quite finds the pixilated sensibility the work seems to need, while writer Samuel Bernstein strains for a climax. The one thing "Bobbie's Girl" does have going for its subdued treatment of the lesbian relationship --- these characters don't need to be lesbians for any plot point, they just are." The Houston Chronicle noted that this is "An Irish co-production, Bobbie's Girl was filmed in Ireland, a fine and proper setting for the whimsical free-spiritedness it aims to project."Awards and nominations
- Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy AwardThe Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s, Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special—Bernadette Peters (nominated) - GLAAD Media Award, Outstanding Television Movie (nominated)
See also
- Wikipedia article on television shows with LGBT characters