Fresh and Exciting

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Billy Bob Thornton plays Lonnie Earl Dodd, a car salesman in Arkansas, with his wife Darlene (played by British actress the late Natasha Richardson). With their best friends, a couple Roy (played by the late Patrick Swayze) and his wife (played by South African actress Charlize Theron). Natasha Richardson would pass away years later but she uses her acting abilities to play Darlene with complexity rather than a Southern caricature. When you watch her here, she isn't acting royalty or her training at Central School of Drama and Speech. Her Darlene fits in with the cast. Texan Patrick Swayze who too passed away is also believable as his best friend Roy. The foursome seem to have fun in this movie about two couple spending a vacation in Reno, Nevada. Billy Bob Thornton have tried and succeeded in displaying an often ignored part of America on film. He's become one of my favorite actors, writers, and directors.

*****WARNING - CONTAINS SPOILERS***** I decided to buy this film as I wanted to see more Natasha Richardson films after she sadly passed away earlier this year. I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. Although the storyline had flaws, there were some exceptionally funny moments in the film. The whole cat-fight scene between Darlene and Candy in the Hotel was hilarious.I thought the acting was superb, you wouldn't have guessed that the late Natasha Richardson and Charlize Theron were putting their accents on. I loved Billy Bob Thornton's character, although his character is flawed, deep down he really does love his wife and wanted things to work out between them and his one liners were brilliant!! The late Patrick Swayze was brilliant as the not so clever husband of the gorgeous Charlize Theron. He was sweet and the pain on his face when it dawns on him that his wife and best friend have slept together is acted perfectly.It is sad watching this film now that two of it's stars are no longer with us and the last scene is incredibly touching and emotional.If you are looking for light hearted comedy with brilliantly cast actors, this is the film for you.

Because the first half is worth sleeping through as the fun is in the second half. Trust me, you won't miss anything of the story if you catch it from the second half but make sure to catch Penelope Cruz's sizzling but hilarious cameo first with Billy Bob and then with Patrick. The story is nothing new, nor interesting and has been done x times. The characters are irritating particularly those played by Thornton, Theron and Swayze. However, Natasha Richardson's Darlene is very likable. Performance wise, all the actors fit the bill especially Natasha Richardson (who remarkably pulls off the Southern accent)and Charlize Theron (in the later scenes). The lads, Billy Bob Thornton and Patrick Swayze are alright. The ending was somewhat awkward but a happy one nonetheless. The 'catfight' scene in the lift was hilarious and there's a wonderful moment of acting by Richardson when she's in the lounge after her tiff with her husband when she finds out that he cheated on her. One might feel hateful towards Theron's character when she advises Darlene and supports her like a friend when she had shagged her husband but in the latter half one feels sympathy for her as Theron displays Candy's remorse quite well. The soundtrack is quite fun and of the foot-tapping sort. Overall, this is an okay movie to watch after you've had a very tiring day and just want to relax and watch something that won't use up your energy too much.

This movie was much better than I had expected it would be. The characters were actually developed! I was surprised to see each of the actors committed to being real characters as opposed to charicatures. It deals with real issues without making too much light of them and without making you depressed. I was delightfully surprised by this movie.