Normal Life (1996)

Chris is young idealistic cop who falls in love and gets married to Pam, a beautiful but emotionally unstable woman who suffers from alcoholism and drug addiction. While Chris is trying ... See full summary »

Director:

John McNaughton

Writers:

Peg Haller, Bob Schneider

Stars:

Ashley Judd, Luke Perry, Bruce A. Young

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ashley Judd	...	Pam Anderson
Luke Perry	...	Chris Anderson
Bruce A. Young	...	Agent Parker (as Bruce Young)
Jim True-Frost	...	Mike Anderson
Edmund Wyson	...	Darren
Michael Skewes	...	Officer Swift
Scott Cummins	...	Hank Chilton
Kevin Mukherji	...	Homeowner
Kate Walsh	...	Cindy Anderson
Tom Towles	...	Frank Anderson
Penelope Milford	...	Adele Anderson
Brian McCann	...	Justice of the Peace
Dawn Maxey	...	Eva
Kevin Hurley	...	Norman
Brian Blondell	...	Toy store clerk

Storyline

Chris is young idealistic cop who falls in love and gets married to Pam, a beautiful but emotionally unstable woman who suffers from alcoholism and drug addiction. While Chris is trying hard to have a normal life and some money, Pam is big spender and their marriage is constantly troublesome with the financial situation getting worse and worse. The biggest blow comes after Chris loses his job. In the desperate situation Chris decides to use his police skills to rob banks.

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Plot Keywords:

police | police officer | bank robber | genocide | suicide | 

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Taglines:

They found the American Dream ... One bullet at a time!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of violence, sexuality, drug use and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amerikai rémálom

Filming Locations:

Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fine Line Features, New Line Cinema, Normal Life Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Astrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bar where Chris and Pam first meet is the Bartlett Tap, and is located in downtown Bartlett. It's a tavern that has been there since the 1800's.

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Goofs

In the chase scene where they close in on Pam during the shoot out, the police open fire on the van covering it with bullet holes. After the shooting ceases, the bullet holes mysteriously disappear and then reappear.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Chris Anderson: Lock and load. You ready?
[Pam nods]
Chris Anderson: Time to go.

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Connections

Features Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

User Reviews

Slow character study

This movie is supposed to be a Bonnie & Clyde type vehicle, but it is much more an almost student project to showcase the actors, especially Ashley Judd's, acting range. It is _slow_. It takes almost the first half of the movie to get started, which is not good, as movies should grab you within the first minute.

Anyway, Ashley Judd is impressive as the schizophrenic girl with the undoubtedly abusive past, who falls for Luke Perry. As someone who hasn't had the displeasure of watching 90210, I only know Luke Perry as a rather disconcertingly ordinary looking fellow who also played in "Riot". Ashley Judd is impressive, although she is naked a lot and not really into lesbianism at all. However, whatever there is of a story is way too slow to get started and when it does, is too predictable.