Nurse Betty

Rating:
Summary: Not funny and very disturbing
Review: I would give this no stars, but they don't give you that option. This is not one of your feel good movies, unless you're a psycho. This movie attempts to make light of a girl who is having a nervous breakdown after witnessing a murder. Wow, how exciting. If you want to see a funny movie with Rene rent Me, Myself, and Irene but avoid this one, it's not worth the money to rent. Unless you like movies that make light of murder and people with mental problems, then by all means rent this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A fresh new comedy. Renee Zellweger shines.
Review: It isn't often that we see a fresh comedy. "Nurse Betty" is certainly that and much more. If this is any indication of the kind of material that we can expect from first time screenwriter John Richards, then he has a very bright future ahead of him. It is the story of a waitress who always wanted to be a nurse. She lives this dream vicariously by immersing herself in her favorite soap opera. When she is emotionally traumatized by witnessing the murder of her husband, she retreats into a world where fantasy and reality are fused. She believes that the soap opera is reality and that she is part of that reality. So she sets out to find the lead character in the show, a doctor whom she believes was once her fiancé.

Naturally, this gives rise to numerous hilarious situations as she goes about living as a soap opera character in the real world. What is so clever about the way the story is written is that Betty is extremely believable while engaging in absurd behavior. In most comedies, we justify the comical behavior of characters by assuming the characters or the situations are ludicrous. In this story, the character and the situations are very realistic, but her temporary insanity puts her in a separate realm where she can be simultaneously earnest and amusing.

The addition of the killers attempting to track her down adds an additional comic element, delivering a more traditional type of humor, with absurd characters doing absurd things while acting as if they believe they are serious. This terrific and innovative blend makes the film sparkle with novel situations.

The direction by Neil Labute is excellent. It is a challenge to keep a script like this from collapsing into farce, but Labute brought forth genuine performances from all the actors that maintained the believability in the premise. He also created some nice effects with lighting in various scenes. Considering that this is Labute's first major motion picture, he did an extraordinary job. As a piece of developing trivia, this is the third film directed by Labute, all of which have college chum Aaron Eckhart in the cast. His next film, called "Possession", stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, and surprise, Aaron Eckhart.

As good as the story is, it would not have worked without Renee Zellweger. Zellweger oozes sincerity with a lovable naiveté that makes Betty utterly believable. Since I first saw her in "Jerry MaGuire", I continue to be more impressed with each new role. She has an ethereal quality about her that makes her dreamy and adorable, while still having the depth as an actor to handle the heavy scenes with an emotional force one wouldn't expect from such an airy actor. I also enjoyed the performances of Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock. They make a wonderful odd couple, the introspective career killer and the brash hothead. Allison Janney also gives a fantastic performance in a supporting role as the soap opera producer.

This is a unique and delightful comedy despite that fact that it is a bit dark and bizarre. I rated it a 9/10. Sometimes dreams really do come true.

Rating:
Summary: original and well cast
Review: It's nice to see anything that's both original AND entertaining. Every role is well developed and acted. The only minus would be the plot holes. But if your not a nitpicker and just want to be entertained you'll enjoy the quirky script and delightful performances by Freeman and the irresistable Zellweger.

Rating:
Summary: Suprisingly Enjoyable Dark Comedy
Review: Usually I try to avoid so-called "screwball" comedies, but "Nurse Betty" would more aptly be labeled in the region of black comedy.

This fantasy has some great moments, most of them being between Rock and Freeman. In a mild Pulp Fiction ripoff, Freeman is another in a seemingly endless parade of philosophical hitmen, yet Freeman's hitman is so good and amusing that you forgive the farmiliarity. Rock shines as always and portrays a more amoral and violent man.

The soap opera aspects are interesting, as we see how people use them to escape from staid, difficult existences.

A scalping, a dash of romance, aspirations of nursing, and a nice depiction of ordinary folk combine to make this a dynamic film that manipulates endlessly, but you will forgive.

Rating:
Summary: In LaBute's fine film, all Betty's are off
Review: I think what prevents "Nurse Betty" from becoming a really great movie is that it tries to be too many things at once. It is part soap opera parody, woman on the run flick, buddy movie, satire of small town America, and deconstruction of the line between fantasy and reality. On their own, all of these elements work wonderfully. But when combined together in a jumbled stew, the pot tends to overflow. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the movie. I did. Immensely.

Topping the list of enjoyable elements is the fine cast. Morgan Freeman exudes wisdom and cool in one scene, and off-his-rocker mania in another. He is so effortless here, you won't be able to spot him acting. Most of his scenes are with Chris Rock, who, while not up to Freeman's lofty standards, acquits himself quite well in his portrayal of a surprisingly complex character. These two share an easy chemistry, and provide some of the movie's funnier moments. Greg Kinnear is cast perfectly as a handsome but bland soap opera star. He doesn't really do much other than flash his perfect teeth and show off the sparkle in his eyes, but then again he doesn't really have to. His character is little more than a device. In smaller roles, Aaron Eckhart (a LaBute staple), Crispin Glover, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and the great Allison Janney do yeomen's work livening up the background. And Renee Zellweger shines in the title role. I am not usually a fan of her work (her schtick strikes me as nothing more than Joey Lauren Adams-lite), but here she is appealing as the woman on the run from both hired killers and her own senses. Loaded up with attractive innocence, you can't help fall and feel sorry for Zellweger's Betty.

Neil LaBute, the writer/director behind the scornful double-bill "In the Company of Men" and "Your Friends and Neighbors", only wears his director's hat here. Which I thought would have been too bad, because it was his writing that pushed those two flicks over the top. He seems to have poured his writer's energy into directing, for there are some moments when he tries too hard to make an impression (i.e., using extreme blues or browns in certain scenes, calls too much attention to his style when it's not really needed). Overall, though, he did a fine job, moving the story along, and getting some great work from his actors. He leaves the script in the hands of John C. Richards and James Flamberg, both first time screenwriters, who do an admirable job with it. Although their collective minds begin to wander at times (the scenes of Betty in the company of her soap opera fantasy man could have been shortened a tad), when they get their focus, it is strong and funny. In the end, I didn't miss the vitriol of LaBute's earlier films (although I am itching for him to return to those days again).

Although not really able to spark the kinds of dialogue that his previous films did, "Nurse Betty" is ultimately a rewarding experience from LaBute. It never stands up to make any bold statements, preferring to take the gentler road. And I guess that's the real strength: in showing that LaBute is more than a one-note auteur, "Betty" is a promise of a varied and interesting filmmaking career to come.

Rating:
Summary: What a Wacky Concept
Review: From the cover and the trailer of the movie, you might not know what the heck is going on in the film called Nurse Betty. I have to say that the story is original. And just for that fact, I really love this movie. Not only does it have one of the best casts that has been in a movie for awhile, but the movie is really funny. The story focuses on Betty (Zellweger), a house wife who works on occasion at the local town diner. She is also obsessed with a soap opera called A Reason to Love. Mainly she is in love with the main star of the show, Greg Kinnear. When her car dealer husband is axed, Betty loses it and goes into a state of shock. From then on the movie is one funny romp that evokes more than a few laughs. If you're in the mood for an entertaining movie with stars like Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear, and Renee Zellwegger, then this is one to check out.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing is as Simple as it Appears
Review: I have read that this movie is described as a comedy. It is true, and it is hysterical at times--really fun-- but it is MUCH more than that. I think that the screenplay for this movie is a full tilt bust out origional faboo blast of a screenplay, almost Shakepearean in depth (now don't get turned off!!!), and the actors rose to the occasion in the way that only Morgan Freeman, who is a true great adding depth to everything he touches, Chris Rock, who is stunning in a mostly dramatic and more sinister role than usual in this, and Renee Zellweger, one of our most underrated actresses--a total peach who got the part of a lifetime in Nurse Betty ,and my personal favorite second banana, Greg Kinnear, who is divine in this film--the man can do anything thrown his way--Anyway, what I am trying to say is...you MUST see this. They rose to the occasion and blew it out for us. And then think abut how nothing is as it seems. For that is the point of this charming, yet sometimes quite graphically violent movie. This movie is unique. The people are not who they are, the story is not what you think, and you're in for the ride of your life. By the time you're halfway there, chasing amiable, if driven, amnesiac Betty accross the country, it seems that picturing her in Dorothy from Kansas' gingham dress while standing in a dimly lit Grand Canyon with hitman Morgan Freeman looking adoringly at her is going to make plenty of sense. And why not indeed.

Now see this movie. It is a remarkable morality play with incredible charm, class, and demented fun and what you read into it, yourself, in every aspect.

Rating:
Summary: A Feel-Good Movie!
Review: This movie is a wonderful low-key comedy starring Renee Zellwegger in her brilliant performance as Betty, who believes she's a nurse on a popular soap opera after going in shock from witnessing her husband's horrific murder. The two hitmen who killed her husband are the suprizingly hilarious duo, Chris Rock and Morgan Freeman. The plot twists and turns as we follow Betty from her rural mid-west hometown to Hollywood because she believes that she is a nurse who is in love with an arrogant doctor, played fittingly by Greg Kinnear. Morgan Freeman steals the laughs from Chris Rock as they follow Betty, who's the only witness to the murder, across the country and always one step behind her. Everyone will enjoy this movie for it's talented actors, it's comedy and it's "warm and fuzzy" ending.

Rating:
Summary: Truly Original
Review: Nurse Betty was highly overlooked when it made its theatrical run. The critics were mostly in high praise of it, but the average movie going audience opted to go see something else. And why was this? Because people do not have any idea what is good and what is bad.

This film was a terrific look at the lengths someone could go to seek out their idealized life. Renee Zellweger does a fantastic job as Betty, a waitress whose husband treats her terrible so she loses herself into the soap opera world. She is completely in love with Greg Kinear, who also does a great job as the phony doctor and the actor who is a true jerk. Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock get thrown into the mix as 2 assasins that kill Betty's husband, causing Betty to flee. Freeman and Rock follow her to Hollywood where she can live out her fantasies and become some one new.

This film is something different from what we are all used to seeing. It is thoughtful and incredibly entertaining. The comparisons to Fargo are entirely wrong. This film is nothing like Fargo. This film has a much different tone and a much different atmosphere. Overall a great film.

Rating:
Summary: Theft and madness with a dash of originality
Review: There are rip offs and then there are rip offs. And when you steal from the masters, it's usually a very visible theft. Nurse Betty, while not falling for the more conventional traps completely, does make it's roots very evident.

Renée Zellweger plays the title role, a mousy Kansas waitress married to a scumbag car salesman who, unbeknownst to her, is dealing drugs as a sideline. When she inadvertently witnesses his brutal murder, it causes a psychotic split that convinces her that she's actually the old flame of her favorite soap opera character Dr. David Ravell (Greg Kinnear). She leaves the scene of the crime in a haze to go find him and it's not long before the murderers are hot on her trail.

Now you have to give the plot credit for originality but there are just so many problems in the execution that originality alone is not enough to save it. In that respect it reminds me of last year's Being John Malkovich (although not as original as that - what is?). The film is basically split into two threads - Betty finding her fictional lover and the killers who are after her. That second thread reveals problems early on.

Morgan Freeman plays the seasoned hit man showing the new kid, Chris Rock, the ropes. Their story opens with the sort of banter that Tarantino is known for and evolves into a direct lift from the Coen Brothers bickering bad guys a la Fargo. Freeman plays it with some panache as a smooth old timer looking to retire and finding that he's falling for his target but Rock, in a very uncharacteristic turn, is nothing but screaming anger and complaining throughout the film. I don't know how general audiences will take his latest character, but to this viewer he became a grating harpy real fast. I just don't like seeing a decent comedic actor scalping his victims and roaring with rage in every single scene. There's got to be a human being in there somewhere.

The whole story of Betty however is the real point of originality here. I wish writers James Flamberg and John C. Richards had stuck to this and allowed the character to develop more fully. Her soap opera obsession is shared by most of the people she meets along her journey and there's certainly some good parody to be had on the small screen. Zellweger turns out possibly the best performance of her career in such a sweet, low key way that you just can't help but root for her and after traveling across the country, the scene where she finally meets the object of her affection makes the whole film worthwhile.

Unfortunately that's the high point in a movie that borrows too liberally from the aforementioned bastions of '90s film. If someone like Tarantino, the Coen brothers or maybe even the Farrellys (There's Something About Mary) had this production, they could keep it interesting and manage to tie the whole thing together. As it is, Nurse Betty is as schizophrenically split as it's title character. Combining violence and comedy is a tricky thing to handle and if you don't do it well, it's too easy to fall into the cracks of those who do.