Alan Arkin, Marisa Tomei, Natasha Lyonne
Decamping under cover of early morning darkness, the Abramowitz clan sneaks out owing the rent on yet another dumpy apartment at the seedy edges of Beverly Hills. "It's not normal to move every three months," whines 15-year-old Vivian (Lyonne, a gifted young actress) as she, her dad (Arkin, terrific as ever) and two brothers drive around waiting for enough light to find an even cheaper place in 90210 land. Slums of Beverly Hills, set in 1976, is a comically poignant tale about a troubled family—Mom has long since split—trying desperately to hang on. Director-writer Tamara Jenkins, who has said that her debut movie is semiautobiographical, exhibits a vigorous, original voice and is well-served by an exceptionally skilled cast. (R)
Bottom Line: Cute movie about growing up poor among the rich
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