Three generations of women, each flawed, each strong-willed, fight their way to familial reconnection in this bizarrely-toned movie.  I am not sure that sexual abuse and screwball comedy have ever been blended in quite this way.  Quite frankly, I am not sure anyone in their right mind would ever even attempt it.  Nevertheless, director Garry Marshall has crafted a project that just manages to make it all worthwhile.  Although, it could be argued that Marshall relies on an uncontrollable force of nature, more commonly known as Lindsay Lohan, to make it work.

Rachel (Lohan) is Lilly's (Huffman) daughter.  In turn, Lilly is Georgia's (Fonda) daughter.  Rachel is being forced to live with her Grandmother for the summer, moving from San Francisco to Idaho.  Needless to say, for the rebellious Rachel, this sounds like hell on earth.  None of the women get along.  Personality clashes, age old grudges and tragic secrets are the cause of severe conflict and resentment between the three of them.

Rachel rolls into the small town like a hurricane, knocking each guy's socks off (among other things) and causing a stir in the typically placid community.  Lilly takes off, leaving her responsibility behind with Grandma, so she can hit the sack with her hubby and hit the bottle with Mr Smirnoff.  Georgia lays down the heavy lumber with rules and discipline, something unwelcome and unheeded by Rachel.

The film weaves back and forth, often side-tracking us with sub-plots about a widowed veterinarian and a Mormon hunk of man meat.  It never quite settles on its intended focus.  Nevertheless, the three women are the primary reason to watch "Georgia Rule" -- It is in their interactions that the heart of film lays.

With such a fantastic female cast, you might be surprised to hear that the youngest of the three is by far the standout of the group.  Lohan is immense as the troubled teen who has issues with trust and loyalty and truthfulness.  She bounces from wicked to angelic, from vulnerable to stoic.  Lohan's Rachel is a character not easy to forget.  Despite all her shortcomings as a human being, Lohan makes her easy to like and fascinating to watch.  Lohan has always been a fabulous young actress -- one of the best around.  It is a shame that her "tabloid persona" is causing people to overlook that talent.  I would like to see people ignore the media invention and concentrate on the work she keeps churning out.

The safest bet out of the three is Jane Fonda.  She doesn't disappoint here at all.  Her Georgia is a feisty veteran of life that sees right though all the histrionics and drama, getting to the core of things.  This is Fonda's best performance in a long while.

The weakest link here is from the typically reliable Felicity Huffman.  Her attempt at portraying an alcoholic feels forced and uncomfortable.  I just didn't buy it at any point.  With everyone else delivering good work, Huffman seems trapped in TV-movie hell... never quite managing a three dimensional and caring character.

There are some tragic elements to the story... and yet they don't hit home as emotionally as one would think.  This is primarily because the film feels light-hearted and jovial for the bulk of the running time.  When the "big news" comes to light, it feels somehow matter-of-fact.

Still, I enjoyed the script.  It is witty and fresh.  I thought many of the performances were very good.  However, the films inertia is all a result of Lohan's redlining engine.  She makes the film tick.  She makes it worth seeing.  It is a little too uneven for anything in the A-range, but "Georgia Rule" is definitely a cut above most of the other summer drek in theatres right now.

Felicity Huffman, Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan in "Georgia Rule"