Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even

Laura Chartoff is a teenager with body issues and dysfunctional families. She lives with her mother Melinda who is in her third marriage. Melinda is closer to her present husband Keith Power's pretty daughter Corinne. Keith also has Kurt who spent a year in military school and adult son Josh. Josh and Keith don't get along. Melinda and Keith have young genius son Sam. Laura's father David has three ex-wives, getting divorced to Barbara who is the mother of their young daughter Jessie, and living off of pregnant girlfriend Stephanie. He's an artistically blocked painter. Family dramas are inevitable. Laura runs away to live with her blacksheep stepbrother Josh.

This could be a functional teenage coming-of-age story. Hillary Wolf's big role is Macaulay Culkin's sister in Home Alone. She doesn't have it or the big screen charisma to lead a big cast. Expositions are sometimes a necessary evil and this is definitely one of those times. This movie needs a fun two minute animation of all of her parents' marriages and kids. It's simply too much work to write down the org chart while trying to get involved with the story. It would also allow Laura to stay at the center of the screen instead of going off with the other family members. It gets to a point where Laura doesn't seem to be the lead character. This simply has too much going on.

This movie is perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon. Laura Chartoff (Hilary Wolf) narrates this story about her experiences in a suffocating family setting where she just can't seem to get the affection and sense of control that she'd like to have.

For one thing, the family situation is all screwy. Her mom, who seems to make a hobby out of marriage as Chartoff explains in her quick video history introduction, marries Kieth, a very wealthy guy who appears to be a work-a-holic who treats his kids more like playful accessories than members of the family (notice how he reacts to his youngest son, Sam, who explains that he is writing a thesis about cartoon voilence and the socialization process). Laura's mom is similarly distracted by the luxuries of a being a rich man's wife, though she seems to take a liking to Laura's materialistic step-sister, Corrine. Likewise, Laura has a difficult relating to Kurt, who's father treats him like a house servant rather than a son.

Likewise, even Luara's father, flaky artist (Griffin Dunne) seemed to get stuck in a rather complicated situation, having one child with a nice woman named Barbara, but then wound up with a half-gassed new age artist named Stephanie who is pregnant with his twins.

But Laura finds an opportunity to escape when her stepbrother Josh, Kieth's oldest son who gave up years ago, stops in for a quick visit. Josh promises not to tell Lauara's parents where she is, but worried about her being on her own and the potential undetermined length of her visit, calls on some of the family for help. Laura takes off by then and the whole family gets word and comes looking for Laura. And that's where the story begins. The weekend together forces the family to work out their differences and for the parents to bond with their children, even Laura, who spends most of the time off on adventures while trying to figure things out for herself and wonders if her situation is really all that bad.

It's a funny little movie, but one that is probably best enjoyed on a lazy day.

I have always found this film an enjoyable and fun movie that uses satire to deliver some profound insights into modern American blended families. The film focuses on Laura Chartoff (Hillary Wolf), a delightfully sarcastic and self aware preteen and her dysfunctional family. Laura hates the family situation she has been forced into, but also finds she doesn't know how to convey this to either of her divorced parents, self absorbed and materialistic Melinda (Margaret Whitton) and well meaning but inarticulate David (Griffin Dunne).

After a particularly nasty fight with her mom and stepdad,Keith(David Strathairn) Laura runs away with her stepbrother Josh (Dan Futterman),who is estranged from the family. Soon all of Laura's family arrive at the lake house where she and Josh have been staying, and she takes off again, believing Josh has betrayed her trust.

In the days that follow, Laura will discover some fundamental truths about family as she makes her way alone in the world. Meanwhile,back at the lake, Laura's various family members-parents, stepparents,and siblings all come to realizations about their relationships that are alternately funny, touching, and poignant.

This is truly a great film which few people even know about-an underrated gem. Filled with vibrant performances-especially by the wonderful Dan Futterman, by Patricia Kalembar as Laura's beloved stepmother, Barbara, and by a pre-"Boy Meets World" Ben Savage as Laura's know-it-all half brother, Sam. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. You won't be disappointed.

A teenaged girl (Hillary Wolf) protests about the so called "revolving door" marriages that both of her parents have gone through over the years. It has left her part of a bizarre overextended family. A delightful cast and some hilarious moments save what could've been a very weak film.

I loved this movie so much I bought the VHS tape and I don't regret it one bit spending the 5 dollars to get it. This movie is funny, emotional, and has just great performances by Hillary Wolf, Griffin Dunne, Dan Futterman, David Straithirn etc... I would completely recommend everyone to buy this movie on VHS. You will cherish this movie forever. I love the song at the end. It makes you feel so good about the ending. The soundtrack is great on this movie and I wish it was released. Hopefully a DVD of this movie will come out in the near future with extras, deleted scenes, and bloopers. I really wish Hillary Wolf and Margaret Whitton could come back to acting. They are such great actresses. Wolf was great in Home Alones 1 and 2 and Whitton was wonderful in Major League 1 and 2 as the owner. I think they should have a reunion to put on the DVD. It would be great see what everyone is up to now and to see how much everyone has changed.