A Major Disappointment

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

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

If you are looking for easy, adult, laugh out loud entertainment, this is the movie. It is a light hearted comedy and the story lines have been "done to death" but these 4 actors put a fresh spin on these otherwise "trite" characters. Billy Bob Thornton is just brilliantly funny. You want to hate him but you can't. To see Patrick Swayze playing what we think is a not too bright person was fabulous. He did an outstanding job. I have never seen him in a roll like this. The talents of this cast take this story and make it enjoyable and entertaining. This is Jerry Springer meets Road Trip and the result is a ball of fun! 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 re- watch value for some. The sex scenes, however, are nothing but tease and may leave you frustrated. Actually it is rather fun hearing Swayze talk with a southern accent. Tony Orlando is good in his small role. Overall, it's a great film that offers great comedy, but at the same time, it offers us true pictures of the human condition that can strike close to home.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

WAKING UP IN RENO (3 outta 5 stars) Dubbed by the filmmakers as "a redneck 'Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice'", this is an enjoyable little movie... very funny at times but also treating its characters as real people with real emotions. Billy Bob Thornton is Lonnie Earl, a used car salesman married to Darlene (Natasha Richardson) but who has had a recent fling with her best friend Candy (Charlize Theron). Candy's husband Roy (Patrick Swayze) is desperately trying to get his wife pregnant but suspects his sperm may not be working. While on a vacation in Reno to renew their wedding vows, the foursome's relationship comes to a head when Roy's non-existent sperm count is confirmed the same day as his wife's pregnancy and everyone notices Lonnie Earl's shifty eyes upon hearing the news. While amusing and likable, the movie isn't quite as good as it could have been... and it often seems to be setting up future situations (like a suddenly-ignored attraction between Roy and Darlene) that never come to fruition. (I was expecting much hilarity from a scene of Lonnie Earl's attempt at eating a 72 ounce steak in one hour... but the scene winds up being mostly uneventful.) The actors do a great job though... particularly Thornton, whose skill at blurting out totally insensitive and inappropriate lines is unsurpassed, i.e. "She's on her deal, y'know?" And I will take any excuse to see the lovely Mrs. Liam Neeson (Natasha Richardson) on screen!

I've seen some crappy movies in my life, but this one must be among the very worst. Definately bottom 100 material (imo, that is).We follow two couples, the Dodds (Billy Bob Thornton as Lonnie Earl and Natasha Richardson as Darlene) and the Kirkendalls (Patrick Swayze as Roy and Charlize Theron as Candy) in one car on a roadtrip to Reno.Apparently, Lonnie isn't too happy with his sex-life, so he cheats on his wife with Candy, who's despirately trying to have a baby. Roy, meanwhile, isn't too sure if his sperm is OK so he's getting it checked by a doctor.Now, I had read the back of the DVD, but my girlfriend didn't, and she blurted out after about 20 minutes: 'oh yeah, she's gonna end up pregnant but her husband can't have any baby's'. Spot on, as this movie is soooo predictable. As well as boring. And annoying. Meaningless. Offensive. Terrible.An example of how much this movie stinks. The two couples set out in their big car towards Nevada, when they are stopped by 2 police-officers, as they didn't stop at a stop-sign. The guys know each other and finally bribe the two officers with a case of beer. Not only is this scene pointless and not important (or even relevant) for the movie, it takes about 5 minutes! It's just talk and talk and talk, without ever going somewhere.I still have to puke thinking about the ending though. Apparently, Roy ISN'T having problems down there so he IS the father of the child. How many times does that happen in the movies... try something new! The cheated wife ultimately forgives her husband and best friend for having the affair and they all live happily ever after. Yuck.Best scene of the movie is right at the end, with a couple of shots of the Grand Canyon. Why couldn't they just keep the camera on that for 90 minutes?One would expect more from this cast (although Thornton really tries), but you can't really blame them. Writers, shame on you!1/10.

This is by far one the most pathetic and under-achieving movies I have watched in some time. Natasha Richardson, Billy Bob Thornton, Patrick Swayze, and Charlize Theron play one of the dumbest foursomes I have ever seen in a movie. This was in no way their fault whatsoever. If anything I would have to give them some extra accolades for giving these characters any depth at all, seeing as how they were not given much to work with.If these characters had woken up in Reno they would have in the least swapped mates and made themselves truly happy. I mean these are four of the most clueless characters I have ever seen. In some ways their backwoods, child-like behaviors make them a bit more appealing and humorous, but they learn nothing in this story - except whose best friend slept with who's husband/wife. After all the arguing and reactionary behavior ceases, its go to the monster truck rally, and then go home, where magically everyone kisses and makes up like nothing ever happened.It's preposterous and so silly that it's painful. I did find myself waiting for the end to come, which when it did was completely unfulfilling. This movie is just a lame duck with a loaded cast. What a waste.