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

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

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!

Holly Hunter is just amazing in this true, stranger than fiction, slice of Americana. Regardless of the horrors told here by the underrated Michael Ritchie, the film emerges as one of the funniest black comedies ever made. Holly Hunter deals with the madness of her character in such a completely matter-of-fact fashion that I felt compelled to sit through the movie one more time to make sure I hadn't imagined the whole thing. The second viewing allowed me, not only to confirm what I'd suspected but to discover a million new details in Hunter's performance that flew by me the first time round. You can bet I'll sit through it a third time while I recommend it to you whole heartedly.

From the great Michael Ritchie, director of The Bad News Bears, comes this very funny, sharp film based on the true story of a woman who tried to hire a hitman to kill the mother of her daughter's cheerleading rival. Great performances all around from Holly Hunter to a very funny Beau Bridges and a weird Swoosie Kurtz. I like the film a lot, Ritchie has always enjoyed skewering Southern culture and he is firmly in his element here. Definately doesn't view Texans kindly, but watch King of the Hill for that point of view.