Nurse Betty
rated R 109 minutes USA Films starring Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Chris Rock, and Aaron Eckhart written by James Flamberg and John C. Richards directed by Neil LaBute
A Review by Frankie Paiva
Rarely is any movie such a director and actor triumph. The overall theme of Nu rse Betty is taking risks, traveling the open road, and discovering the person you really are. This applies to both the characters in the movie, and the actors playing them. For director Neil LaBute, this film shows he's equally skilled at directing material that isn't his own. Screenwriters James Flamberg and John C. Richards get a chance to show off their superior wit and skill. The screenplay also provides a comic breath of fresh air for each of the lead actors. This thing is just ablaze with talent.
Betty Sizemore (Renee Zellweger) lives in the small town of Fair Oaks, Kansas with her abusive dimwit husband Del (Aaron Eckhart). Betty's life revolves around a hospital soap opera called A Reason to Love that stars George McCord (Greg Kinnear) as dashing lead doctor David Ravell. In addition to committing adultery, Del's involved in a drug deal with Charlie (Morgan Freeman) and Wesley (Chris Rock). One night Del invites the men home for a business discussion. He is unaware that Betty is watching a tape of her favorite show in the next room. Since Del hasn't delivered some promised heroin, Charlie and Wesley assume he's keeping it for himself. So they kill him, and Betty witnesses the whole thing. She goes into a state of shock. When she hears Dr. Ravell on television saying, "There must be something special out there for me," Betty assumes he must be talking about her. She heads to Los Angeles in hopes of finding her "ex-fiancee," and starts accepting the show as truth. What she doesn't know is that her car has that missing heroin in the trunk.
It's about time that Renee Zellweger received a good comic role. Both The Bachelor and Me, Myself & Irene saw her humor opportunities limited by a bad leading man. This film hands her many chances to shine, and she gives a brilliant performance. The whole picture rides on her shoulders, and she makes a very good leading lady. Thank casting directors Heidi Levitt and Monika Mikkelsen for the appearance of Morgan Freeman. Like Steve Martin, he is one of America's most outstanding, but underused actors. The job he does here, and the chemistry he has with the Chris Rock character, steals the whole movie. Rock is good too, if a bit familiar. They are best when together. Greg Kinnear, after a string of flops, shows why he became such a big actor. His biting work exemplifies some of Hollywood's crueler personalities.
The screenplay has a steady pace and creates room for small, memorable characters. At the same time, it generates outrageously hilarious scenes that are just priceless. Betty is a perfectly established persona, and since everyone in the film is so quirky no individual's actions seem random and without meaning. Movement between the various locales is surprisingly fluid thanks to dexterous directing and editing. However, all things are not completely rosy in Fair Oaks or Los Angeles. There is quite a bit of violence that doesn't fit the tone of the movie. While nothing overly graphic takes place, the scalping and shoot-outs didn't need to be as bloody as they were. The film dips ever-so-briefly into some sex humor that's not required. Beyond that material, few jokes ever fail.
Everything about this movie is different. That may be why USA Films is releasing Nurse Betty, which is at its heart an independent film, to multiplexes. They're probably trying to create another comedy sleeper like last year's Being John Malkovich, which they also released. This movie isn't quite that unique, but is considerably less dark, and no less inspired. See this movie, tell a friend about it, and have a good time. It is the antidote to a summer of boring and predictable flicks.
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Frankie Paiva SwpStke@aol.com http://homestead.com/cinemaparadise/mainpage.html
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