Films Outside the Loop Jeanne Chappé

Two very different women meet in Reno and both are getting quickie divorces. Johnny Sparkle (Martin Mull) is their attorney and Louise Fletcher is the judge. Edie (Jennifer Tilly) married a musician who left her after two weeks. Pen (Stockard Channing) has spent nine years married to a real jerk-off who now wants a divorce (probably for his new squeeze). Harry Hawkins (Scott Glenn) was divorced by his wife because he was a womanizer. Harry's wife also took his dog, Millie, which is the main reason the divorce is making him crazy. These three people with failed marriages meet up at The Playhouse Bar and the adventure begins.

This movie script was written by Victoria Tennant, the well-known British actress. She also has a cameo appearance walking down the street with a dog. After watching this film...I am praying that she will write additional movie scripts! The dialogue is hysterical (especially if you have been through a divorce).

Pen decides to throw caution to the winds and she lets herself be picked up by some cowboy rowdies. Edie goes along to save Pen from herself. Harry is one of the rowdies and the other two are played by Michael McKean and Michael O'Keefe. There are other great cameo roles in this film including Randy Travis as the country singer "Pony Cobb". I love that name. Harry, Pen and Edie wind up stranded in the middle of nowhere and have to walk back to town. When walking by a lake, Edie and Pen decide to throw their wedding rings into the lake and make a wish on the future at the same time. This is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Stockard Channing is a fascinating actress as her face is ethereal and moves in mysterious ways. Jennifer Tilly plays wacky with an underlying vulnerability. They are wonderful together.

This is a movie about the transition between marriage and being single again. It ain't always easy BUT it can be funny. Have you ever thought about using the story from "Old Shep" as a seduction line? Hey...it might work if you have never heard the Elvis Presley song.

Shawn Colvin did the original music for this movie and it adds (rather than detracts) to the feeling throughout the film.

Runtime: 1:37

This film is available on DVD, VHS, cable or satellite.

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