The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

When the story of Wanda Holloway's arrest for soliciting the murder of her daughter's rival cheerleader and the cheerleader's mother hit the news here in Texas, it was absolutely bizarre on one hand, but sooo Texas on the other. How does something like this happen, I mean, who ARE these people?

Michael Ritchie does an outstanding job of explaining this in his scathingly hilarious movie. These characters are so Texan! (But not representative of us all, mind you!). Holly Hunter, a born Texan, is brilliant as Wanda Hollow. I can't think of anyone else who could have played the character. There are excellent performances from everyone, actually.

Maybe it helps to live in Texas to fully appreciate the movie. But as you watch it, just remember that this is a true story about real people, and their characterizations are probably not overly exaggerated. Y'all enjoy!

This is one of the best satires I have ever seen on film. Swoosie Kurtz & Beau Bridges are particularly outstanding but all the performances are hilarious & perfectly on target. The material is universally outrageous - all the more so for being based on a true story. Michael Ritchie was a brilliant director whose work has been sadly neglected. Prime Cut & Smile are two of his other masterpieces which deserve resurrection & pristine restoration on DVD. Interesting how some of the best & most off-beat satirical films are about Texas: This plus Texas Chainsaw Massacre plus Murder in Texas plus True Stories.

Obviously some have missed the point of this movie. It's a satire, and quite a good one at that, of the media's tendency to gobble up and regurgitate the lives of even the most marginal people. Yes, Holly Hunter's character is annoying. That's the point. And the fact that this nutcase character who seriously contemplates killing her daughter's cheerleading competition believes herself to be some kind of a celebrity and the degree to which the media is complicit in her delusion is also the point. Satire is not easy. This is a very successful one.

"Positively true Adventures..." takes a bold look into the life of an obsessive stage mother thus making it a successful satire. Holly Hunter gives a killer performance and is arguably one of the greatest female actors around today (see The Piano, Copycat and A Life less Ordinary for evidence). It's a shame this had to be a telemovie as a cinematic release would've guaranteed Holly an Oscar nom, but ah well.

Beau Bridges and Swoosie Kurts also give fantastic performances rounding out the talented cast.

Much like 1999's Drop Dead Gorgeous, this film is black to the point of extreme ebony and should appeal to most, but if you're into frigid sugar-coated films, I suggest you steer clear.

9/10

After a decade of pumping out a long string of really bad cookie-cutter Hollywood clinkers ("Wildcats", "The Golden Child," "The Couch Trip," etc, etc) Writer-Director Michael Ritchie came up with a classic that ranks right up there with his great 70's films. This movie packs the same satirical punch, social commentary, and insightful characterizations as "Downhill Racer," "The Candidate," and "Smile." Great. Too bad it was only on HBO.