August 30th, 2018

A day in the life of gutsy ‘den mother’ in charge of beleaguered sports bar

Kam Wiliams

Regina Hall stars in “Support the Girls.” Photo: Courtesy Magnolia Pictures

In the film “Support the Girls,” Double Whammies is an unremarkable watering hole located along a desolate strip of highway outside Austin, Texas where truckers and regulars can slip in and out quietly without drawing much attention to themselves. The seedy sports bar, a la your typical Hooters, is known for its booze and finger food served by scantily-clad waitresses in cut-off jeans and low-cut tops.

Haley Lu Richardson and Regina Hall in “Support the Girls,” a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo: Courtesy Magnolia Pictures

The place is run with an iron fist by Lisa Conroy (Regina Hall), a very protective den mother who takes seriously her mission to shield her employees from perverts inclined to cross the line and fraternize improperly. Though she shows her tough side to the clientele, the tenderhearted manager handles her staff with big kid gloves.

“Support the Girls,” a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo: Courtesy Magnolia Pictures

Lisa’s motley crew ranges from naive newcomers to hardened pros, and she’s blessed with a knack for knowing precisely what sort of support each needs. Unfortunately, she’s not appreciated by Double Whammies’ owner, Cubby (James Le Gros), probably because the club always seems to have a host of unresolved woes. Like when a burglary takes place thanks to a hapless perp who gets himself stuck in a ceiling vent. Lisa knows the show must go on, so instead of summoning the police, she finds her own way of dealing with such a distraction, which keeps the wheels turning but frustrates her skeptical boss. That’s just the way it goes at this quirky haunt.

Written and directed by Andrew Bujalski (“Beeswax”), the film features many of the hallmarks of the low-budget genre on which the mumblecore maven built his career. The picture effectively paints a poignant portrait of a day in the life of a humble, dedicated working-class heroine just trying to make a buck.

Remember how the indie-flick “Paterson” (2016) managed to elevate a lowly New Jersey poet/bus driver? Well, this tale of female empowerment pulls off a similar feat. Raw-edged cinema verité cut to the bone, if that’s your taste.