What Happened to Bobby Earl?

It blows because of Kate Jackson's lack-lustre presence, and limited "acting" ability. The premise of the show is a cliche of a cliche. The show is a very helpful sleeping-aid. Who needs melatonin with dreck like this?

Poor Bobby. If only he went to a two year technical school.

Okay, this film is not very good. But, I happen to be a great fan of Kate Jackson. I always hope her next film will be an independent art house film directed by someone like Todd Solondz, or a European project. Somehow few people seem to realize what a great actress Kate Jackson is, who would do great in a film like Happiness, or Billy Elliot. At the same time I am surprised that block buster directors do not notice her. Show a little courage, casting directors!

On the other hand, it could be that Jackson always shows up in television films voluntarily. She is doing a good job and has been very productive over the years, so it is not really a loss. And these television films are sometimes not even that bad. Coming from the Netherlands I have seen a lot worse. I am genuinely impressed by her performances in The Stranger Within, Armed and Innocent and Empty Cradle.

As I said earlier, What Happened to Bobby Earl ( a typical t.v. movie title) is not a very good film. The characters are quite flat and the best example of this is the 'bad woman' who tempts Bobby to walk the criminal path. She is the stereotypical femme fatale, dressed in black and red designer clothes and living a meaningless, expensive life.

Teaming up Rose, Jackson's character, with the insurance agent who is after the bad ones is very unrealistic. His character, I don't care whether based on reality, should have been left out altogether and is just one of the numerous weaknesses in this film. Lack of events, bad plot structure, length, needless melodrama, uninteresting filming locations and bad actors in supporting roles are others.

However, I very much am in favor of the social point that is being made in this film. When Bobby is given a revolver for his graduation by his friend, his mother Rose (Jackson) is astonished and shocked and cries out "What the hell kind of a gift is that to give to a college graduate!" and "Criminals have guns. Criminals and the police..."

I don't think we would see Rick Schroder or Charleton Heston in a film that makes a social comment like that.

Yes, without Kate Jackson in this, it would have been a total bomb. She saves the day with some fine acting and human emotions, which seems to be lacking in the rest of the cast. Worst of the actors are Kristian Alfonso. made up like a hooker, with over the top makeup and acting as a control freak and Drew Ebersole as Bobby Earl who goes around in the movie like he's out in space somewhere. Looking like a blinded deer most of the time, he doesn't make his role interesting enough to care about what happens to him. Then there's pretty boy Matthew Settle as the best friend who seems to be crying most of the time and Henriette Ivanans as the girl friend who is so plain and dull you wonder why anyone would want to bed the tramp. Originally titled WHAT HAPPENED TO BOBBY EARL? to give some lure as of BABY JANE and SWEET CHARLOTTE, this is far from that classic. Directed by Bradley Wigor who had the sense to leave Kate do her job and written by Joseph Maurer who must have been crazed to the casting of this loser. I give it 2 stars for Kate Jackson and Kate Jackson.

unlike the previous commenter, who obviously has no taste in the fine acting ability that Kate has, this movie is good. Kate never would have promoted the movie if she didn't feel it was worthwhile.