Across the Moon

Here's the deal: a lot of stuff in this movie I didn't like. But I first saw this movie because I knew that Michael McKean had a role in it. He is not in much of the movie, but what he is in took my breath away. More people should really acknowledge that he has so much more to offer than Lenny Kosnowski (Laverne and Shirley) and David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap). He is a magnificent actor, and one of my very favorites. His performance in "Across the Moon" should have gotten much more recognition than it ever did. If you have not seen this movie, rent it, just to see his few lines, and his few scenes. All together, this movie has a nice feel to it, and women would definitely be able to identify with the situations and the characters.

11 years after this film was released only 5 people have reviewed it here on IMDb. There is a reason for this utter lack of interest in Across the Moon. It is coherent, but lacks all cinematic virtue. See this film for examples of terrible production in all respects. The opening credits for instance are white letters rising mechanically from a red background. The ending features Michael McKean staring out a prison window saying "There's lots of mysteries out there." followed by a clip montage/music video of all the uplifting moments in the tragically bad movie. Julinana Hatfield. Everything in between is awful. I struggled to find any value in this movie and have come up empty. Though it is hard to believe, even a cameo role from Burgess Meridith (always a crowd pleaser) only disappointed me further. This movie is like a mockery of what is special about movies. On paper the movie is below average. Women living together in a trailer. But what actually was produced was nearly unwatchable. The movie attempts to branch off in many directions but never follows through on any. The unappealing conflict of having their boyfriends in jail is never resolved. No conflict is ever resolved. There really is no conflict. The women attempt to become hookers, but that never happens. Instead they get jobs as a bartender and a shelf stocker. Sound exciting? IT wasn't. IT was stupid. And the bulk of the movie is the two women talking and generating contrived conflict. The women are capable actresses, but the script was beyond poor. Useless. This was a terrible movie, but it is even worst that they borough Burgess Meridith out of his retirement home to make it. Bad from start to finish. Like the lion without teeth, this film has no bite.

Okay, so these two chicks set up home in a trailer near a desert prison so they can see their loser boyfriends. One is from uptown Los Angeles, the other from the mean streets. All kinds of shenanigans happen, which mostly involve them running out of money a lot and dealing with the lack of men in their lives. But they persevere despite the odds stacked against them, and just when the movie starts to get interesting...

The. Film. Just. ENDS. There's no closure here, just a million and one loose ends and a massive feeling of dissatisfaction. You'll be left scratching your head at whether the budget ran out of money or the screenwriter couldn't be bothered to scribe a proper conclusion to his random events plot.

What does it matter? Despite bravado performances by Christina Applegate and Elizabeth Pena, ultimately this is a complete waste of time due to the rushed resolution which completely overshadows what positives might've come before it. Take my advice, and do something else with your life instead. 4/10.

Kathy (Christina Applegate) and Carmen (Elizabeth Pena) are two totally different girls who are brought together because their boyfriends are partners in the selling and distributing of illegal narcotics, and wind up selling their stash to a couple of cops. After being sentenced to a prison term in a jail 400 miles south of LA, both ladies, who are not keen on the idea of being so far away from their men, move down to the desert and start life down there. They have their share of arguments while learning to live together, but deep down inside their both good girls, so learn to look past and eventually embrace the differences. Carmen's boy Paco (Michael Mundra) even learns to like the desert life, with the help of a few local characters of course (one played by the always amusing Michael Mckean). At the most, this is a movie that entices the viewer to feel that they too learned something about cultural diversity, and it was really great that both the leads were able to overcome prejudices and live together peacefully. If you're in the mood for a film that's been made a thousand different times under a thousand different masks but leaves you feeling good about life as the credits roll, then give this film a spin. If you're more the type that doesn't enjoy watching recycled trash, then I'd say it might be better to put this one back on the shelf next time you're in the video store. As a last thought, there was a cool painting by Frida Kahlo on the wall of the trailer, its unfortunate they didn't give her any credit. Rating: 18/40

i actually liked this movie about two woman who decide to live together out in the desert near the place where there busted boyfriends are located. a movie about idealism and it's power in time of need. this movie is also known as mojo flats (at least that's the title the video cover had for it).

recommended for people who like road-movies, this looks like a light version of Thelma and Louise.