Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)

A small town prepares for the homecoming of superstar Roxy Carmichael, as does a young outsider, who believes Roxy is her mother.

Director:

Jim Abrahams

Writer:

Karen Leigh Hopkins

Stars:

Winona Ryder, Jeff Daniels, Laila Robins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Winona Ryder	...	Dinky Bossetti
Jeff Daniels	...	Denton Webb
Laila Robins	...	Elizabeth Zaks
Thomas Wilson Brown	...	Gerald Howells
Joan McMurtrey	...	Barbara Webb
Graham Beckel	...	Les Bossetti
Frances Fisher	...	Rochelle Bossetti
Robby Kiger	...	Beannie Billings
Dinah Manoff	...	Evelyn Whittacher
Sachi Parker	...	Libby Ohiemacher
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Mayor Bill Klepler (as Stephen Tobolowski)
Micole Mercurio	...	Louise Garweski
John Short	...	Ronald Reems
Robin Thomas	...	Scotty Sandholtzer
Valerie Landsburg	...	Miss Day Ashburn (as Valerie Landsberg)

Storyline

Although Roxy left town more than fifteen years ago, her memory has never faded. Her expected return starts to impact a number of lives, including that of her former partner Denton Webb. But it is Dinky, the adopted daughter of the Bossettis and ignored by most of her classmates as a strange loner, who may be most changed. She is convinced she is Roxie's secret child.

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Plot Keywords:

homecoming | small town | swimming pool | skinny dipping | teenager | 

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Taglines:

She doesn't want much. Just a whole new life.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Roxy

Filming Locations:

Clyde High School - 1015 Race Street, Clyde, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,989,297

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Unfortunately, the scene where other kids throw food at Dinky was quite familiar to actress Winona Ryder. Ryder has described being called a weirdo and having Cheetos thrown at her by some girls in eighth grade because she wore a crew cut and listened to Sex Pistols.

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Goofs

When Evelyn shows up at Roxy's welcome home party, her ponytail is not the same color as the rest of her hair.

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Quotes

Dinky Bossetti: Once when I was six and a quarter, Mrs. Bosetti and I sat down and we talked.
Elizabeth Zaks: So, what happened?
Dinky Bossetti: Well... I told her I preferred books to dolls, boots to ballet slippers and that my idea of a family vacation was for all of us to go work on the Alaskan pipeline.

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Connections

Referenced in The Real ....: Winona Ryder (2003)

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Soundtracks

In Roxy's Eyes (I Will Never Be The Same)
Written and Performed by Melissa Etheridge
Courtesy of Island Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Winona Ryder great but the movie is lacking

15 years ago, Roxy Carmichael left town leaving behind her boyfriend and new baby. Now, she's coming home as a success story. Her former boyfriend Denton Webb (Jeff Daniels) is still not over her despite being married with kids. Dinky Bossetti (Winona Ryder) is adopted, bullied at school and a loner who keeps lots of animals at an abandoned boat. Dinky is convinced that she's the love child of Roxy and Denton. She's interested in class hunk Gerald Howells but he's reluctant to show affection for the class freak. Her only friend is the school counselor Elizabeth Zaks.

Winona Ryder is perfectly cast as this sensitive outsider teen. She is great at playing this type of character. The rest of the movie lacks humor. It tries to be a sharp black comedy but the writing isn't good enough. Director Jim Abrahams is more known for his spoof movies. He doesn't seem to have a solid hold on a sensitive serious coming-of-age movie. The tone is awkward. The attempted comedy slams into Denton's anger and his side of the story. The movie works with Ryder but struggles without her.