Just caught this film on cable. I noticed the cable TV guide gave it one star. While certainly not a great film, giving it only one star is a bit harsh. Granted, I wouldn't have wanted to sit through two hours of such a movie, but it breezes by in a relatively enjoyable 90 minutes or so (if even that). I must say, as an American I kinda cringe to think of how "Waking in Reno" must satisfy every unflattering stereotype about Americans in the eyes of Europeans. The four characters are about as Red State as you can get (one of the Arkansas accents is done with remarkable aplomb by British actress Natasha Richardson). Richardson and Charleze Theron, the two female leads are none too tough on the eyes (which the men will appreciate). And Billy Bob Thornton give his usual interesting performance (without a doubt the most intriguing actor in America today). Swayze is just so-so, but not much is demanded of him. Not much is demanded of anyone or anything, for that matter, by this harmless, and quite funny, bit of fluff. Make a note to catch the wry commentary and numerous deadpan jokes about redneck culture (the script could have been written by Jeff Foxworthy). As it is, I believe one of the writers is a childhood friend of Billy Bob's from Arkansas (no doubt Thornton's presence in the film, as well as that of big time stars like Theron, was as a favor to the writer/childhood friend of Thornton). The movie reaches it climax at a Monster Truck show. That alone should be all you need to know about the setting and plot. I give it a recommendation to catch on cable/satellite if one of your movie stations is carrying it, though there are probably better things to spend your money on at the video shop.

Billy Bob Thorton is married to Natasha Richardson. They're Arkansas natives, and he has a Chevrolet franchise. They're best friends with Patrick Swayze and Charlize Theron, who are also married and from Arkansas. Together they take a vacation to Reno, where they discover that Ms. Theron is pregnant by Thornton.

Hahahahaha! By the time this particular comedic bombshell was dropped, I was pretty tired of this foursome, stuck as they were in the cultural 1970s, with references to TV shows and Ms. Richardson's fondness for Tony Orlando being as highbrow as they got, since Thornton has nixed a sidetrip to the Grand Canyon. In other words, they were White Trash, and I was wondering: this is the Third Millennium. We can't make fun of Jews or Italians, or the handicapped or fat women -- fat men are still okay, so long as they're fat White men -- or Chinese or..... well, almost anyone. So why is it okay to mock people from Arkansas, given Hollywood's sensitivity to every other group?

I like old movies, and have no problem with making fun of people from Arkansas, nor Jews, nor WASPs, nor any of the innumerable classifications of people. But I also think that in order for a movie to be funny, it needs to have more humor than some mildly absurd hairpiece on Mr. Thornton and a sense that these people aren't au courant with whatever was the hot cultural trend in 2002. What a strange and useless waste of four talented performers.