If there ever was a film in which one character not only stole all of the limelight, but was rather all of the limelight - this is the one. Christina Ricci gives one of her best performances to date as DeDee Truitt, the 16-year-old who is full of herself and thinks of all others as losers (only those who are nice).
Don Roos, who both wrote and directed this film gave a valiant effort only to see his film lose its focus (everyone eventually skipping off to Canada for no apparent reason) after having a powerful and interesting first half hour. This film is unabashed in its truthful display of people and how others can step in and ruin everything for them. It just happens that the catalyst for all events to come is when DeDee decides she no longer feels right living with her mother in Louisiana, so she decides to go move in with much older half-brother (Martin Donovan) who just happens to be gay. DeDee eventually steals his boyfriend and takes his whole livelihood with her, also taking the film downward from here.
Some of the most interesting casting choices were made for this film, all dull in their own manner and each having nothing to take anything away from Ricci. Many have complimented Lisa Kudrow on a "wonderful" performance - I think this comes after so many have seen her so often as a simple blond, the likes of Friends. She really offers no more to this film than simple one-liners that had me groaning at each mention. Ivan Sergei (Matt) could use a little more experience before trying to step into a role such as this, he seemed lost throughout the film. Johnny Galecki (Jason) made me think of Roseanne each time he was on screen and Lyle Lovett (Sheriff Carl Tippett) should most definitely stick to singing.
If only this film could have stayed on the course of its first half-hour, then we would have had something special here. Unfortunately, it swayed too much and took its focus off the true center of the film: DeDee.
6/10 stars.
Don Roos, who both wrote and directed this film gave a valiant effort only to see his film lose its focus (everyone eventually skipping off to Canada for no apparent reason) after having a powerful and interesting first half hour. This film is unabashed in its truthful display of people and how others can step in and ruin everything for them. It just happens that the catalyst for all events to come is when DeDee decides she no longer feels right living with her mother in Louisiana, so she decides to go move in with much older half-brother (Martin Donovan) who just happens to be gay. DeDee eventually steals his boyfriend and takes his whole livelihood with her, also taking the film downward from here.
Some of the most interesting casting choices were made for this film, all dull in their own manner and each having nothing to take anything away from Ricci. Many have complimented Lisa Kudrow on a "wonderful" performance - I think this comes after so many have seen her so often as a simple blond, the likes of Friends. She really offers no more to this film than simple one-liners that had me groaning at each mention. Ivan Sergei (Matt) could use a little more experience before trying to step into a role such as this, he seemed lost throughout the film. Johnny Galecki (Jason) made me think of Roseanne each time he was on screen and Lyle Lovett (Sheriff Carl Tippett) should most definitely stick to singing.
If only this film could have stayed on the course of its first half-hour, then we would have had something special here. Unfortunately, it swayed too much and took its focus off the true center of the film: DeDee.
6/10 stars.