Guncrazy

Drew is the focus of this feature; for how old she was during the making of this film [15? 16?] she doesn't really disappoint. Her pouty beauty is on ample display in this film. That said, in a couple more years, I think she would have fit more into this role. I wasn't surprised that it was a Matthew Bright script; this has much in common with his later directorial/scripted work "Freeway" in terms of character development. (I feel Bright is an outstanding B-film auteur). Tamra Davis blew some important scenes that could have went another way, but she made up with this with some pretty inspired casting for some of the supporting roles. Ironside, Drago... and I don't remember the sleazy guy who played Drew's mother's boyfriend... but they were all in high style and rare form. You can't beat these guys when they're hitting their cues. LeGros certainly didn't embarrass himself and carved another good portrayal (this guy is a great actor!). For a film that seems to be now so cheap that it's practically in the public domain ($1 DVDs at WalMart and such...) .. I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more recognition, and I'd be sad if it was written off as badly by the producers as I assume it has been to be in such disarray marketing-wise.

The sixteen year-old Anita Minteer (Drew Barrymore) lives in a trailer and is an easy high-school student abused since she was nine that has sex with different teenagers and men including her stepfather. When her school teacher assigns each student to find a pen pal to write, Anita contacts the prison inmate Howard (James LeGros), who is trying to regenerate. Anita is encouraged to learn how to use a revolver and when Howard is released on probation, she convinces her friend pastor Hank Fulton (Billy Drago) to give a chance to Howard in his repair shop. Meanwhile her stepfather rapes her and she uses her gun to kill him and hides his body. Howard is released and meets Anita and they immediately fall in love with each other. He also becomes friend of Anita's girlfriend Joy (Ione Skye), whose father Mr. Kincaid (Michael Ironside) is coincidently his parole officer. Mr. Kincaid is a cruel man that wants Joy to stay away from Anita and Howard. When he finds Joy in Anita's trailer with the couple, he frames Howard to put him back in jail, unleashing a wave of violence of Anita and Howard.

"Guncrazy" is the love story of the outcast Anita and Howard that have serious problems. Anita is an abused young woman and Howard is a criminal on probation with erection problem and together they try to build a new (dysfunctional) life. However their environment of violence does not give a chance to the couple that become a sort of young "Bonnie and Clyde". The flawed conclusion is predictable and poorly resolved. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Guncrazy - Howard & Anita, Jovens Amantes" ("Guncrazy - Howard & Anita, Young Lovers")

I just saw this movie the other night here in Sweden, and since i am a Drew Barrymore Fan, i thought this movie was good. Drew acted good and the storyline was interesting and kinda weird.It's worth seeing if you have nothing else to do or just want to see how Drew Barrymore looked when she was 17 (She's Pretty!!).

Occasionally, I like stupid movies for stupid reasons. This happens to be one of them. Any movie that has someone eating a Hostess pudding pie (remember those?) in under two seconds gets at least two stars from me. The most memorable scene of the movie. Rating: ** out of *****.

Drew Barrymore plays a hick-town lass in denim who meets a struggling young ex-con determined to go legit (you know he's not going to last long--the close-ups of Barrymore's pretty, dangerous smile and gleaming eyes tell you that!). Director Tamra Davis isn't interested in copying old film-noirs (such as "Deadly is the Female"), yet her original set-up isn't very intriguing either. The drowsy material at the beginning with an over-aged Ione Skye doesn't work, and Davis takes a good hour to get the energy pumping. Finally, in its last third, "Guncrazy" starts feeling a little feverish and exciting, the action sequences far out-weighing the canned dramatics. Barrymore has a lovely presence on-screen, but she needs a much tougher director to guide her through the complexities of character, not someone like Davis whose grip on this material just isn't firm enough. ** from ****