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IMDbPro

Pretty Bad Actress

Original title: Love, Gloria
  • 2012
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
54
YOUR RATING
Pretty Bad Actress (2012)
ComedyCrimeDrama

An actress with anger issues has to save not only her fledgling career, but her own life, when she gets abducted after an audition.An actress with anger issues has to save not only her fledgling career, but her own life, when she gets abducted after an audition.An actress with anger issues has to save not only her fledgling career, but her own life, when she gets abducted after an audition.

  • Director
    • Nick Scown
  • Writer
    • Nick Scown
  • Stars
    • Heather McComb
    • Danny Woodburn
    • Stephanie Hodes
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    54
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nick Scown
    • Writer
      • Nick Scown
    • Stars
      • Heather McComb
      • Danny Woodburn
      • Stephanie Hodes
    • 2User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Pretty Bad Actress (2012)
    Heather McComb, Danny Woodburn, and Jillian Bell in Pretty Bad Actress (2012)
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    Top cast

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    Heather McComb
    Heather McComb
    • Gloria
    Danny Woodburn
    Danny Woodburn
    • Al
    Stephanie Hodes
    Stephanie Hodes
    • Dawnee
    Jillian Bell
    Jillian Bell
    • Cheryl
    John Hensley
    John Hensley
    • Freddy
    Chris Owen
    Chris Owen
    • Officer Young
    Kevin M. Brennan
    Kevin M. Brennan
    • Officer Christiansen
    John Short
    John Short
    • Mr. Maddox
    Garrett Clayton
    Garrett Clayton
    • Tad
    Annet Mahendru
    Annet Mahendru
    • Katie
    Blayne Weaver
    Blayne Weaver
    • Director
    Arielle Brachfeld
    Arielle Brachfeld
    • Director's Assistant
    Amy Buchwald
    Amy Buchwald
    • Passerby Mom
    Arshad Aslam
    Arshad Aslam
    • Son Passerby
    William Stanford Davis
    William Stanford Davis
    • Kenny
    Senta Moses
    Senta Moses
    • Sherry, Creative Executive
    West Liang
    West Liang
    • Lane, Creative Executive
    Will Beinbrink
    Will Beinbrink
    • Gary
    • Director
      • Nick Scown
    • Writer
      • Nick Scown
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      References In the Heat of the Night (1967)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Just when you think it's predictable & formulaic, it's not.
    My title refers to not just the story but the entire genre of the film, so be prepared. "Pretty Bad Actress" is a dark comedy that revolves around--to borrow the phrase from that awesome 80s song--"the cult of personality".

    The story follows 2 different characters and the way their lives bizarrely intersect: (1) a washed up ex-child star named "Gloria" (played by Heather McComb), and (2) a teenage girl named "Dawnee" (played by Stephanie Hodes) who is Gloria's #1 fangirl. The washed up celebrity Gloria bears a striking resemblance to every Hollywood child star who ends up in rehab (I'll let you fill in the names here), while Dawnee is like every nerd from "Big Bang Theory" all rolled into one. What follows is a seemingly predictable but ultimately complex chain of events that include, but are not limited to, kidnapping, mayhem and murder, with intermittent dashes of hilarious Hollywood spoofery & pop culture satire, as well as some very sobering, human moments. In other words, hold on to your hat because things get weird.

    I spent the first half of the movie somewhat disinterested because the story seemed like such a cliché, but right around halfway you realize that the setup was deliberately predictable because that's what gives the film power when things get revealed. Suddenly this isn't just a cardboard tale of an ex-diva and her adoring fan who find common ground to thwart their antagonists, but it really spins into new territory where we question the 2 heroines themselves, their motivations, insanity and the ghosts latent inside each character.

    There's a fantastic supporting role of the sleazy agent "Al" (played by Danny Woodburn, famous as "Mickey" on Seinfeld) who is such a self-serving Hollywood caricature that when a possible murder occurs, he instinctively calls the casting agents before calling the police (and even then, he doesn't know the number for 911 lol). Danny is what gives this story its comedic punch. But don't expect a comedy because, like I said, this film straddles all genres. If you're expecting just a madcap comedy you'll be disappointed; if you're expecting just a crime thriller you'll be disappointed; if you're expecting just a teen coming of age story you'll be disappointed. BUT if you expect nothing and just go along for the ride, I think you'll really dig it.

    Other unconventional, quirky, pseudo-crime dark-comedies I would compare this to include "Stealing Sinatra" (2003), "Poker Night" (2014), and an obscure yet must-see flick if you enjoy kidnappings gone awry, the Japanese film "Rainbow Kids" (1991). All of these flicks seem pretty basic on the surface, but each is guaranteed to deliver a good head-smacking *gotcha* moment that's worth the price of admission.
    helpful•3
    0
    • rooprect
    • May 3, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 7, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Love, Gloria
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RMS Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $300,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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