Whether or not you will like “Material Girls” can be summed up pretty easily. If you love Hilary Duff (and by extension her older sister Haylie) then “Material Girls” might be the best movie ever. If “A Cinderella Story” made you gag, then stay away. This is the ultimate Duff vanity project.

The movie stars Hilary and Haylie. It was produced by Hilary, Haylie, her mom and Hilary’s bodyguard. I’m not making that last one up. The movie features cameos by people associated with the Duffs and it’s fun watching the familiar faces pop up.

“Material Girls” doesn’t break any new ground; it is what it is. The girls play heiresses who lose their cosmetics company and then fight to get it back. Along the way they learn those wonderful life lessons about what it means to be poor and how to properly iron. The movie offers no surprises; it’s just an excuse for Haylie and Hilary to wear nice clothes, then the audience can laugh at them as they slum it, and, well, I won’t spoil the movie for the three people who can’t figure out the ending. There’s also a scene where Hilary spoofs Erin Brokovich. It’s Chapter 19 for those who care.

The movie is light on extras. There’s a commentary by director Martha Coolidge. She feels the need to explain every scene in the movie, like it’s a complex noir. There’s also a feature where the Duff girls talk about how much fun they had making the movie and how girls should be themselves.

There’s a making-of feature where you learn that Brent Spiner did the movie without reading a script. Insert joke here. There’s also a montage set to the Duff sisters cover of “Material Girls,” and Hilary’s “Play With Fire” video.

So to summarize again: If you love the Duff girls, “Material Girls” is a definite must-buy; If “Raise Your Voice” only raised your ire, then definitely take a pass. This will just make you hate them even more.






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