Rating: 
Summary: A funny movie
Review: A funny movie. Not a classic -there are no classics anymore- but a funny movie. Intelligently written so that many of us are able and willing to accept unusual situations in an unfamiliar environment. Not all of us sell used cars, wear tattoos or works gluing labels on cat-food cans. Actors are very good with some minor exceptions. Remarkable the magnificent command of the southern accent by British actress Natasha Richardson. The rest of her performance is great too. Billy Bob is excellent and so is Theron. Patrick Swayze, with his brand new set to teeth, his impeccably dyed brown hair and not looking a second older than sixty, seems a little like a miscast to me. First of all, he is not particularly funny, is not a brilliant actor and I had a pretty tough time figuring out how he happened to pick up a babe like Theron, unless he adopted her. But those are details. The movie is pleasant. I don't know if I want to own it but I spent a nice time watching it.
Rating: 
Summary: White trash behaving badly in the biggest little city.
Review: After sitting on Miramax's shelf for two years, "Waking Up In Reno" had a cup of coffee in selected theaters before hitting the video stores, and it's not hard to see why: Despite its star power - Billy Bob Thornton, Charlize Theron and Patrick Swayze - the movie is a meandering flotilla of throwaway sitcom lines and faux Oprah lessons. Thornton is Lonnie Earl, an Arkansas car dealer, full of shiftiness and charm, with a sweet, repressed wife Darlene (Natasha Richardson - yes, that one) Married couple Candy (Theron) and Roy (Swayze) are the best friends. Lonnie Earl's the kind of man who plans vacations to Reno in January for the rates and a monster truck rally - with a stop at a steak-eating competition along the way - while Darlene suffers as an art. Candy and Roy don't seem well matched, but they are trying to have a baby; the trip to Reno is, in fact, a working vacation. "Reno" makes no secret that Lonnie Earl and Candy sleep together - though their hearts aren't in it - and their infidelity figures heavily an hour into the movie, after the four have wandered all over the Southwest. Writers Brent Briscoe and Mark Fauser - Thornton buds - intend to poke fun at Southerners, but only Thornton, who's spent half his career on the bottom of double bills, squeezes out a half-dozen laughs - he's seen awful scripts before and he knows how to milk them. Candy is target for satire, but Theron, brimming with tears as usual, plays her dead straight. Richardson's performance is an absolute catastrophe and Swayze's just Swayze - staring blankly, stammering, flinching. I'd call it method if it hadn't become his performance of choice since "City of Joy."
Rating: 
Summary: Bashful's DVD Summary #010
Review: Best: 1) Much of the redneck dialogue was absolutely hilarious. Some scenes should give any viewer a belly laugh or two.
2) It was wacky and upbeat enough to hold your attention throughout.
3) There are a decent amount of special features including funny director/writer commentaries. Worst: 1) The sexy scenes weren't all that racy. We get to see Charlize in her underwear and later splashing about in a swimming pool, but that's about it. Recommendation: If you like your laughs big, fat and dumb, then you'll probably like this one. There were a few good one-liners that gives this one rewatch value for some. The sex scenes, however, are nothing but tease and may leave you frustrated. Consider paying retail for this one ONLY if you're really into redneck humor and/or Billy Bob Thornton - otherwise get it used for half price or less.
Rating:
Summary: Not an award winner, but funny film.....
Review: I had to take a road-trip of my own four towns to the south to see Billy Bob Thornton in "Waking Up In Reno" because of its 'limited release' status. But it was worth the trip.
There were only six other people in the theater. All seven of us laughed at the appropriate times, so there are at least seven people in this part of southern Florida who recognize 'funny' when they see/hear it. I do not know why this movie is getting such bad reviews and bad press. Maybe you have to be from the south to enjoy the humor. I would say maybe you have to be a BBT fan, but I don't think that is true, because I would have enjoyed it anyway. It isn't another Monster's Ball or Sling Blade, but it is funny and has just enough of a ring of truth in the situations and very believable characters (at least to us southern folk) to make it enjoyable, recognizable, cute and humerous. Won't win any awards, but deserves better ink than it is getting.
The premise for those of you who don't know is based on a road trip from Millsberg, Arkansas (pop 8,8??, too quick for my old eyes) to Reno with a detour to Amarillo so Billy Bob's character (Lonnie Earl Dodd) can win a $50.00 bet by eating a 72 oz. steak. This is like a road-movie, but less like Hope and Crosby and more like Chevy Chase and Beverly DeAngelo without the kids (although the two couples do often act a lot like kids).
Patrick Swayze's character (Roy Kirkendall-sp?) is sweating the results of a pending fertility test; his wife, Candy, (Charlize Theron) is begging for a renewal of their marriage vows in Reno (because lots of people get re-married where gambling is legal); and Lonnie Earl's wife (Darlene Dodd) played by Natasha Richardson just 'isn't the girl that Lonnie married' anymore.
Lonnie sells used-cars, Roy works for his father-in-law in a cat-food cannery, and Darlene is a stay-at-home mom, while Candy has transformed from 'Lonnie's supportive friend' to 'his afternoon delight'. These are individuals who have been friends since grade school, but discover while on the road to Reno that there are still many things to be learned about one another. The revelation of these little secrets 'just among friends' makes for some pretty hilarious antics in 'the 'Biggest Little City In The World'.
From searching for midgets to roadside-bedroom antics for a grateful audience; from brawls on the casino floor, to bubble baths and room service; the four "Wake Up" to insights about themselves and their friends and relations. Roy discovers his manhood in a most unlikely manner, Candy learns a secret that sends tremors through all the relationships, Darlene definitely gets her groove back, and Lonnie...well Lonnie may just be on the receiving end of one of the greatest acts of revenge a scorned woman has ever devised.....
Brent Briscoe (The Killing Box, A Simple Plan, U-Turn, Sling Blade, and Minus Man, not a Billy Bob Thornton film, but starring Dwight Yoakam, who also was one of the producers of "Waking Up In Reno") is Russell Whitehead, small town cop. I will need to see the flick again, but I believe I caught a brief, very brief, glimpse of Marty Stuart. He was billed as a member of the 'musical group', but I thought I caught him in a crowd scene. Tony Orlando plays himself in an integral part of locating 'the real' Darlene. There are ooodles of great shots of Billy Bob's gorgeous brown eyes that you could drown in. You also get to hear him sing a snippet of "Hang On Sloopy" (which might possibly be on his next CD). There is a close-up of a kiss between BB and Natasha that will have his female fans drooling, at least it worked for me.
All in all this was a very enjoyable film and I would recommend it to all Billy Bob's fans and anyone else who enjoys cute comedy with a just a little message tucked in the corners.
Its a good'n. See it soon at a theater that may NOT be near you.
Rating:
Summary: A funny movie
Review: I just caught this movie on Starz, and even though I'm not usually into "Billy Bob" movies, I was totally sucked in after the first few minutes. What I thought was neat is that the "rednecks" in this movie weren't entirely stereotypical...as a matter of fact in my opinion they were pretty much on target. I know a handful of people in my neck of the woods who look/act/talk the exact same way. My favorite part of the movie is when the foursome finally get to Reno and the two women are running around their awesome hotel suite, dancing to a Shania Twain video on the leather couch. Just for the record, Patrick Swayze looks just as good today as he did nearly 20 years ago in Grandview USA. Yum! His character was a perfect match for Charlize Theron's slightly dumb, slightly slutty but still sweet Candy...who was a good enough friend to "Darlene" to sleep with her husband. Don't miss this one if you get the chance!
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: I just caught this movie on Starz, and even though I'm not usually into "Billy Bob" movies, I was totally sucked in after the first few minutes. What I thought was neat is that the "rednecks" in this movie weren't entirely stereotypical...as a matter of fact in my opinion they were pretty much on target. I know a handful of people in my neck of the woods who look/act/talk the exact same way. My favorite part of the movie is when the foursome finally get to Reno and the two women are running around their awesome hotel suite, dancing to a Shania Twain video on the leather couch. Just for the record, Patrick Swayze looks just as good today as he did nearly 20 years ago in Grandview USA. Yum! His character was a perfect match for Charlize Theron's slightly dumb, slightly slutty but still sweet Candy...who was a good enough friend to "Darlene" to sleep with her husband. Don't miss this one if you get the chance!
Rating:
Summary: A truly funny, heartwarming film
Review: I watched this movie thinking it would be completely dumb, but I was soon proven wrong. The humor and emotion in this movie was intense to the point of uncontrollable laughter. I was home alone when I watched it and surprised at how loud I was laughing. The characters are well developed and portrayed by all four talented actors. Although extremely humorous, this movie also had a serious side. It tests the strength of true love and true friendship to the max. This is a great movie that will leave you with a warm feeling inside.
Rating:
Summary: A truly funny, heartwarming film
Review: I watched this movie thinking it would be completely dumb, but I was soon proven wrong. The humor and emotion in this movie was intense to the point of uncontrollable laughter. I was home alone when I watched it and surprised at how loud I was laughing. The characters are well developed and portrayed by all four talented actors. Although extremely humorous, this movie also had a serious side. It tests the strength of true love and true friendship to the max. This is a great movie that will leave you with a warm feeling inside.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good!
Review: I'm a fan of both Billy Bob Thornton and Charlize Theron, so I decided to rent the movie. It was surprisingly good and surprisingly hilarious!
Two couples from Alabama who are all very good friends decide to take a road trip together to Reno to see a monster truck jam. They all want to find happiness and this leads to some very funny predicaments. Each character is different and is well-played by the actor. A mixture between white trash and redneck humour, you are sure to laugh and enjoy the movie - just as long as you don't expect a movie that might be nominated for an academy award.
It's not deep or artsy. It's just good, plain, raunchy fun!
Rating:
Summary: Only Billy Bob
Review: It is not hard to imagine why it took so long for this movie to be released. It's not very good and the story has nothing new or worthwile about it. There must have been more stories about couples sleeping with the other in the other couple. Billy Bob Thornton is worth seeing in this movie, playing a second-hand car dealer. Charlize Theron isn't bad as Patrick Swayze's wife. It is rather fun hearing Swayze talk with a southern accent. If you have too much money or a Billy-Bob obsession you can get it, but I would what until it's on television.
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