Ripe

"Ripe" is one of those awful indies which manages to get into circulation and give indies a bad name. Telling a stupidly incongruous tale of pubescent twin sisters who crawl from a firey car crash which kills their parents and then hit the road while happily shoplifting, making goo-goo eyes at some guy, and ending up on an Army post so dilapidated no Army would want it (yeah, right!). An apparent attempt at a coming of age flick, "Ripe" is an almost complete loser which wanders aimlessly as the players drift in and out of character finally ending clumsily with nary a shred of credibility to be found anywhere. Not recommended for anyone.

Ripe is a story about two 14-year-old sisters who, in their immature view of the world, strike out for Kentucky because they think for some reason it's a beautiful place where life is easy. On their way, they get sidetracked and decide to stay a while at a derelict army base that bears no resemblance to any base I have ever seen. There is no security and no discipline.

The girls live with a long-haired guy whose job, it seems, is to run errands for the base.

The best part of this film is the acting by the two lead actresses. Unfortunately the characters they play have no redeeming features (nor does any other character). They are thieves with a penchant for violence. The writer/director makes it clear in the first scenes that violence is a part of their natures. Their only allegiance is to each other, and that allegiance is at risk as they grow up and they discover an outside world.

The main problem with the film is the writing. The film does not have a viewpoint, it just seems to record happenings, which are often bizarre. Whenever one of the two main characters has an opportunity to learn something, the story thwarts that possibility--unless you think that learning to shoot a gun is a significant learning experience.

I found the film emotionally flat and disappointingly pointless.

This film, alternately side-splittingly funny and stunningly bizarre,is destined to become a cult classic. It's difficult to decide if the filmmakers were wanting to make a seriocomic social commentary or just indulging a penchant for the outlandish. Either way, this is a movie that must truly be seen to be believed. After two viewings I can't really say whether I like it or dislike it, but I can certainly recommend it to viewers as a film unlike any other. Besides, if it airs on The IFC, it's got have something going for it, right?

This foul, putrid, puerile, rancid pile of dung should have been called "tripe." They forgot the first "t." If you wanted something entertaining, it was not. If you wanted something erotic, it was not. If you wanted something thought provoking, it was not. If you wanted something nauseating, it was. It was not, however, bad enough to be good...

Wasn't too jazzed with this movie at all, and felt cheated after terrible performances and mediocre writing, however the little girl, Maxine (Candice Love), was absolutely adorable and I hope to see her in future performances. There is real talent there for this cutie. Does anyone know where she's from or if she's done anything else? I hope to see her untapped talent in years to come! Her performance made the whole thing worth watching, and she had but a short part. Does she perhaps have a website? The director has gone on to do some worthwhile screenplays but as far as 'Ripe' is concerned, I hope she will not be directing ever again. This movie gets 2 very enthusiastic thumbs down down.