talented screenwriter alvin sargent sadly can not get any engage idea cook in this artificial trifle about a wayward mother and her mature teenage daughter try to make their life work in los angeles despite mom flighty behavior . apart from several good sequence and i do not quite buy susan sarandon a a flake ( she too intrinsically smart and focus to be pass off a this devil may care lady ) and and her naturally ground personality be a bad fit for the role of an irresponsible parent . natalie portman fare much well a her kid and and yet there a creepy aloofness to her work ( and some of her scene and such a the one where she ask a boy to strip and be misguide and uncomfortable to watch ) . certainly not an incompetent piece and anywhere but here do have moment that work and but it isn not an embraceable film and nor have it prove to be an important one . from .