Runaway Girl

The acting was good but the plot was very depressing. This was sad.

I first have to say that I have no problems with the performances; everyone did a great job in that department. Throughout the film Luli is drawing in a sketch book as she narrates and I really liked the simplicity of the drawings. No, what let it down (IMO) was a poorly put together script. They say it's a bad idea to let the writer of a novel attempt the screenplay and I suspect this is a case in point. It probably works very well as a book, but it really didn't work on the screen in this form. I like the actors fine but I found little to like in the characters. Our main focus, Luli, has very few redeeming features; she was a victim of circumstance all the way through and I found it quite frustrating to watch I'm afraid. Sadly not one I can recommend.

SteelMonster's verdict: NOT RECOMMENDED

My score: 4.9/10

You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

This movie wasn't that great, but I think it was better than most of the reviews would suggest. I like films that meander, though. The main character is kind of smart and kind of stupid and has no idea what she's doing. I think that's pretty realistic for a 13 year old runaway. They're not always going to do things that make sense.

I thought the acting was pretty good. I like how it was shot. I like the time period and thought they did a pretty good job depicting rural America in the 80s. How it looked, how it felt. It's little things like the radio that was from the 70s or maybe even the 60s. In lots of period films they stuff the whole thing full of objects from the 80s, but that's not how people live. Particular poor people will have some older stuff around. There were some nice details like that.

It's 80's Nebraska. Luli McMullen (Chloë Grace Moretz) turns 13 and one of her gifts is a gun. Her mother (Juliette Lewis) takes off with a guy. Luli decides to runaway to Las Vegas. She hitches a ride with rodeo cowboy Eddie (Eddie Redmayne) with a limp. He kicks her out after calling him a gimp. She gets picked up by Glenda (Blake Lively).

Moretz is young doing this sexual character. There is a fun quirky sense that is somewhat irksome. It wouldn't be quite as bad if it does this in a gritty ugly way. Moretz doing Dirty Harry is too playful. Redmayne mumbles a lot. Lively does surprisingly reasonable. The story is a muddle. There are ways to make more sense and make it easier. It may need somebody other than Andrea Portes to adapt her book. The big three leads are ready for their stardom. This is a minor detour.

The excellent Chloe Grace Moretz plays Luli, a Nebraska teen who decides to head to the bright lights of Las Vegas leaving behind her drunk of a father and a mother who has run off with another man, sadly things don't go to plan when she hitches a ride with Glenda (Blake Lively)

The story and performances are all very good, but yet again the stand out is Chloe, her performances in this and other films such as Kick Ass and Let Me In are astonishing for such a young actress (she's barely 15 now!)The movie is gritty as Luli is exposed to the dark under belly of life, drugs, drunks, low life's out to use (and abuse) her.Chloe is well supported by a good cast, Juliette Lewis, Blake Lively and a cameo from Alec Baldwin and I was astonished at the films poor rating on Rotten Tomatoes of 5% fresh, critics eh!?

A mature adult drama well worth a look.