Sassy Pants

(2012) Sassy Pants DRAMA/ COMEDY

Written and directed by Coley Sohn starring Ashley Rickards as Bethany Pruitt, who's been home schooled for much of her life by her divorced, penny pinching, controlling mom, June Pruitt (Anna Gunn). She also has a younger brother whose also home schooled, with the only difference is that she's turning 18, and that her goals are much more different than her moms, as she has aspirations to be a clothing designer. The movie dwells on this kind of adventure as well as her tribulations, she had to endure upon reaching her mark. The movie is full of eccentric characters I am unable to relate, which the idea may have derived from one of those books written for teenage girls. The authenticity is totally wack with the only normal person throughout the entire movie is the star herself. Haley Joel Osmond of "The Sixth Sense" plays the gay lover of Bethany's dad Chip who seems like a fun character, but is only shown so much.

This movie was watchable, but so unbelievably non realistic. Most parts I was rooting for the daughter hoping that she would stand up for herself. This movie was boring, stereotyping and just so awful. The characters were not well portrayed not to fail to mention the plot was a big snore fest. Terrible acting. The story line itself was just ridicules in the sense of the main characters flaw of not standing up for herself properly that she gets walked on over and over again. Who's going to believe an eight teen year old is going to let that many people treat her like crap and not eventually say something, do something? Blah! Boring, senseless movie.

Sassy Pants (2012)

In a way this is a simple story: a pretty young 18 year old girl growing up in an obsessively sheltered home with her mom tries to finally leave home. Her dad is a loser but a fun guy living across town. The world seems against her, but she rises up little by little.

So what sustains this story, which has few surprises, surprisingly, is the style of acting chosen. Because everything is deliberately campy and excessive. No one is quite real except the girl, played by Ashley Rickards, who is wonderfully real and adorable in the way you'd sort of hope your daughter might turn out. Naturally you are on her side and the rest of the world is an obstacle course. Even the likable dad is a problem because he is a drunk and shows generally bad judgement.

It's the dad's new partner in life who stirs up the movie, but you'll have to see about that yourself. If you get that far. I found the exaggerations all along not quite funny, but just an excuse for some sorry acting. Or an excuse for not having a larger idea of how to fill the movie up. I could see this becoming a cult classic with some fixes here and there.

And with a more interesting plot. With all the bending of norms here, the plot could have survived a few huge and funny and engaging twists. Once you get the style and the general direction of events, it just plods to the end.

From the minute it began this quirky movie had me, hearkening back to other Indy greats like "Welcome to the Dollhouse." The cast was amazing. Stand-outs for me in the supporting cast were Haley Joel Osment as the uber-gay trailer trash boyfriend with a heart of gold, and the ailing always coughing Jenny O'Hara as the tough as nails grandma with (you guessed it) a heart of gold. However, the understated performance by Ashley Rickards stole the show. The writing is smart, funny and current which is a huge compliment in today's overly-hip-trying-too-hard environment, and Sohn's directorial debut in a feature length movie is to be applauded. The relationships are real, dysfunctional, but loving. The poignant ending of the movie left me wanting more.

If you're in the mood for a light hearted, feel good comedy with some not half bad acting, please don't subject yourself to this. Rather watch Silver Linings or even Freaky Friday.

I read a review about this which scored it 6/10…. What??!

The story is about as complicated as a paper clip, the acting is REALLY impressive. Impressive that they managed to get Gunn, Bader and Osment to agree to make this. Wow… and Rickards over does the "home schooled overly protected daughter"

If you have 1.5 hours to kill and NOTHING else to do while having the urge to see Osment prance around (Which is about the best acting in the movie) then please subject yourself to this.