Waking Up in Reno (2002)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Jordan Brady

Writers (WGA):

Brent Briscoe (written by) &
Mark Fauser (written by)

Release Date:

13 December 2002 (Turkey)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

They're four close friends. Some closer than others.

Plot:

A romantic comedy about two trashy couples traveling to Reno to see a monster truck show.

Plot Keywords:

Monster Truck | Married Couple | Fertility | Beautiful Woman | Marriage Problems

Cast

Natasha Richardson	...	Darlene Dodd
Holmes Osborne	...	Doc Tuley
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Lonnie Earl Dodd
Patrick Swayze	...	Roy Kirkendall
Charlize Theron	...	Candy Kirkendall
Billy O'Sullivan	...	Lonnie Earl III
Galvin Chapman	...	Lane Dodd
Kelsey Chapman	...	Lacy Dodd
Cleo King	...	June
Chelcie Ross	...	Fred Bush
Brent Briscoe	...	Russell Whitehead
Mark Fauser	...	Boyd
Aszue Wilson	...	Mini-Mart Cashier
Hody Porterfield	...	Hodie at the Big Texan
Jo Harvey Allen	...	Waitress at Big Texan

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Denmark:A | Germany:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | UK:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Amarillo, Texas, USA

Company:

Crossfire Sound & Pictures

Trivia:

Mary Steenburgen, Barbara Hershey, Powers Boothe and Laura Dern read for parts in the film when it was being cast in 1997.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Candy and Darlene are sitting at the makeup mirror in the hotel visiting, the strap on Darlene's left shoulder disappears and reappears several times.

Quotes:

[Candy has slept with Darlene's husband]
Darlene: And you call yourself my friend.
Candy: Damn right I do.

Movie Connections:

References "Melrose Place" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Knock Three Times

Not the worst movie I've ever seen

Not the worse - not the best - just kind of in the middle. I gave it a 6 out of a possible 10 stars.

I watched this film mainly because Billy Bob Thornton was in it. I'll watch almost any film BBT is in - I consider the man a genius.

BBT does fine in the film,(as does the rest of the cast) but I'm just not much a romantic comedy fan. I prefer BBT in drama.

The film was watchable, and these days that's sometimes saying a lot.

The premise is fairly simple - which again - is a good thing as far as I'm concerned - I've seen so many darn movies where I couldn't even begin to figure out who the characters were, what the plot was or even where they were at!

Lonnie Earl Dodd (played by Billy Bob Thornton)is a car dealer in Arkansas--actually I think I've seen BBT play this same character in some other southern film.

He has a wife, Darlene (played by Natasha Richardson)and some kids - and a pretty typical life - he and his wife aren't connecting much these days, especially sexually.

Their best friends are another couple similar to themselves, only childless, Roy (Patrick Swayze)and Candy (the luscious Charlize Theron).

These two couples decide to take a road trip to Reno, with the high point of the trip being going to this big monster truck show in person.

Lonnie is the driver, and he's the type that wants to stay on schedule, which means when Darlene wants to stop and view the Grand Canyon, it isn't going to happen.

Candy and Roy are trying to have a baby -- and she's taking her temperature to determine ovulation -- so when that temp is right they've got to "do the deed", right then'n'there, no matter where they're at, or what Lonnie's schedule says.

And then to add to the mix, Candy and Lonnie have messed around with each other, unknown to their spouses. So you know "something" is going blow the lid off on THAT before they're finished.

Its a fair film, good one to rent or catch on TV if you're just laying around the house wanting some light weight entertainment.