Dogfight is set in 1963 San Francisco and refers to a contest held by several Marines to see who can pick the least attractive woman for a date. Birdlace (River Phoenix) chooses Rose (Lili Taylor), a shy waitress whose body language shouts out insecurity. After learning about the true intent of the date and the ugly contest, she feels humiliated. He apologizes, takes her out to dinner and then to bed. Director Nancy Savoca (True Love) and screenplay writer Bob Comfort don't do much with this abbreviated tale about insecurity, group pressures, male machismo, and loneliness. But they do it well.