The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Marianne (Meg Tilly) had many last names and a roaming mother. She eagerly arrives at Normal, Wyoming as the wife to Curtis Johnson. She leaves after he hits her. She's tired of her nomadic life. Darly Peters (Christine Lahti) is a waitress, former stripper, and part Eskimo who is going to Alaska to claim a home that her ex-husband had supposedly built. She gives Marianne a ride to Marianne's conservative sister Emily Singer in Portland. Marianne decides to run off with Darly to Alaska. After their car gets trashed, they hitchhike with truckers Harrison Rainey and Leon (Maury Chaykin). They run off on the guys and find waitress 66.It's a sort of Thelma and Louise without explosions, Brad Pitt, or police chases. Meg Tilly does her damaged character and Lahti does her sassy brash character. They are a good duo. The story is a bit rambling. Once they get to Alaska, the story loses its kinetic drive.

The first time I saw this movie I was unsure if I would like it. I just saw it sitting on the shelf in my local video store and it intrigued me. I rented it, took it home, and popped it into the VCR. I sat back and was taken to another place. I laughed. I cried. I became a part of the story. No other movie has affected me in such a way. I find that dialog from the movie has worked it's way into my everyday speech patterns. I find myself wanting to make a journey where I make no decisions, where fate takes me where it will. I find myself laughing every time I see "flan". I highly recommend this movie to everyone, not just women. It is sweet and tender and hard and real all at the same time. Just watch it. You will love it!!!

You know when you find one of those movies - and it just connects with some part of you, that may or may not be the sucker part?Well this happened to me.A friend left this movie at my house and moved away... one day, me and my best friend sat down to watch it. And cried.It was a beautiful, if typical, chick movie, I loved the scenery shots, even if they were computer generated, I loved the little antics like "flan" no spoiler.. just a joke you will understand if you get off your butt and find this movie.. its great for girls.. boys may enjoy it but not nearly as much as a girl and her girlies :)

No, there is no such place as Normal, Wyoming...except maybe on a psychological landscape. Leaving Normal is the story of an unusual journey and friendship. Meg Tilly as Marianne Johnson is a wide-eyed naif who has never made a good decision in her rambling life. Christine Lahti (now seen on ER) is a cynical cocktail waitress whose choices haven't been much better; together the two somehow cobble a relationship that enriches both, as well as some oddball others. They travel to Alaska, where each finally has the room she needs to build a life. You will probably find this movie in the comedy section of your video store, but it doesn't really belong there, even though some of the dialogue is HILARIOUS. Some nice cinematography, particularly the 4th of July scenes and the aurora borealis. The coffee mug motif is pretty cool, too. Will appeal to anyone who liked Thelma & Louise or Fried Green Tomatoes but wished the heroines of these would have been alive at the end. See it!