Austin Found

Linda Cardellini plays Leanne a scheming pageant mom who wants fame and money. She enters her 11 year old daughter Patty to various beauty pageants but her daughter has not time with the focus on people's outward appearance.

Leanne hatches a plan with her former high school boyfriend, Billy (Skeet Ulrich) to safely kidnap Patty and hopes the resultant publicity will lead to media appearances and book deals.

Billy is hoping that this will bring him and Leanne together but he gets jealous to see Leanne and her husband, Donald on television playing the perfect couple, the husband is unaware of Leanne's conniving.

A local news reporter who was a victim of Leanne's bullying at school is suspicious of the story and follows Leanne meeting up with Billy. Meanwhile Patty bonds with Billy's simple friend JT (Craig Robinson) who becomes protective of Patty.

The film is stuck as to whether it is a dumb comedy, a biteless satire or a drama. Only JT and Patty generate some warmth, empathy and a moral outlook.

I watched this movie thinking it would be a comedy; a dark comedy at the least. While it had funny parts, it was more of a drama. I started off watching this movie while cleaning my kitchen, but it drew me in to the point that I sat down on the couch and watched the whole movie. I was entertained. It was well written with the director did a great job conveying a message. There are multiple messages in the movie and it's a revealing moment in particular that makes this movie stand out. I enjoyed it and I'm glad I didn't do my dishes till later.

The best thing about this movie is what made me want to watch it in the first place, the cast. It's full of great names that I always enjoy. Now on to the negatives. The movie spends a ridiculous amount of time in setup. It spends over an hour setting up the plot, then has to rush through all the interesting parts. Speaking of interesting parts, the movie ended right in the middle of one. It should have kept going. It could have been great with a talented cast and an intriguing plot idea, but they messed it up. Don't bother with it.

Leanne Wilson (Linda Cardellini) is obsessed with fame and intends to get it through her daughter Patty. Money troubles are piling up. She has a devious plan to kidnap her own daughter. She recruits her ex Billy Fontaine (Skeet Ulrich) who in turn recruits his former prison cellmate Jebidiah Thompson (Craig Robinson). Nancy (Kristen Schaal) is the eager reporter on track to uncover the whole scheme.

I don't think Cardellini completely fits this role. I buy the desperation and scheming. I don't buy her as the former Queen Bee prom queen. High school Cardellini will always be in Freaks and Geeks. The movie tries its best and even gives her blonde hair. It's not her. They should have cast Jaime Pressly for the role. Billy and Jebidiah are not the smartest guys around. I don't know what their characters are supposed to think about the kidnapping. Billy could be distracted by the sex but Jebiadiah has no reason to get involved. The plan barely makes sense for Leanne and makes no sense whatsoever for the guys. I am willing to accept them as complete idiots. Otherwise, this is a good satire of modern societal fame with some interesting turns.

Why am I still watching this? Has anyone involved in this move ever been to or met anyone from Texas? Craig Robinson is the only character that deserves any credit for this movie. Every other character was just obnoxiously dumb. The storyline could've been fun and comical if the characters weren't portrayed so stupid and cynical.