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Waking Up in Reno

Why is it that shelved movies always find their way to the screen, only to turn out as flops? You'd think that the studios would have learned their lesson by now; as it stands, though, I don't think that "Waking Up in Reno" is going to be much of a wake-up call, nor is it much of a movie. It acts less like a romantic comedy and more like an extended episode of "The Jerry Springer Show," only with A-list actors playing the hillbillies this time around. ***

That's the film's first big problem: it downplays the slovenliness of redneck living for the gloss and glamor of Hollywood stars like Charlize Theron and Natasha Richardson, who play two trashy women married to the equally trashy Patrick Swayze and Billy Bob Thornton. When Roy and Candy (Swayze and Theron) and Lonnie Earl and Darlene (Thornton and Richardson) plan a trip to Reno to escape the troubles of their confined small-town life, things become even more unbelievable. As expensive as it is to spend one night alone in a place like Reno, there's no way that a car dealership owner from Nowhere, USA could afford an entire week's stay by himself, much less with three others. ***

But I'm getting off track here; what the sexually unfulfilled Darlene doesn't know is that Lonnie Earl (I just can't get over that name!) has been cheating on her... with Candy, who later ends up pregnant just in time for Roy to find out that he's sterile. So, one thing leads to another, and before you know it, there are fist fights and shouting matches afoot. What's even more baffling is how all of this ends on a note of reconciliation and friendship; I've seen enough of Jerry Springer's white-trash guests to know that it doesn't go as smoothly as we see it here. ***

Not that any authenticity would help the film in the slightest; I wonder if anything could save Brent Briscoe's and Mark Fauser's homophobic, racist, and chauvinistic script from being as overtly horrible as it is. None of these characters is worth getting to know, considering the fact that they're completely without any sense of morality or self-respect; God help the kids when they finally start reproducing. Even worse is how they are repeatedly placed in the most unfunny situations possible: I'm sorry, but watching two people get it on in the back seat of a sport-utility vehicle while their friends wait outside just isn't humorous. Nor did I laugh at the constant attempts to inject some local color into the film; for someone who lives in an area where this type of lifestyle runs rampant, I wasn't looking forward to this latest facsimile. I guess I should be happy that it at least tries not to be as shallow as "Sweet Home Alabama" when it comes to portraying hillbillies, but that doesn't make it any less of a bad movie. Consider it the redneck roadtrip from hell.

Terrible movie, great transfer. "Waking Up in Reno" is presented in its theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is full of wonderfully saturated and accurate colors that are vivid and unblemished. Contrast is excellent, with good shadow detail and solid, deep blacks throughout. Edges are sharp, although there are some enhancement artifacts present that can be bothersome; there is very little film grain or noise to mar the presentation, for a smooth, clean transfer. ***

The soundtrack is mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, and also scores points for its exciting use of the soundfield. Especially worth noting is the scene at the monster truck rally, which is full of deep bass from the .1 LFE and lots of surround use with things like crowd noise and the roar of the trucks. Aside from that, the music sounds terrific as well, and dialogue is natural throughout. Very nice!