Review by Forris Day Jr.
I never really planned on watching this flick but I like Patrick Swayze and Billy Bob Thornton. The movie centers around two couples, Lonnie Earl Dodd (Billy Bob Thornton) husband of Darlene Dodd (Natasha Richardson) and their best friends Roy and Candy Kirkendall (Patrick Swayze and Charlene Theron). They decide to take a road trip from Little Rock to Reno to see the big monster truck show together, because WHAT could be funnier than that. That’s sarcasm by the way. Lonnie Earl Dodd, who owns a Chevy dealership, decides to pull one of his most luxurious Suburbans off the lot for the trip. This thing is loaded with every amenity a redneck could want including (but not limited to) corinthian leather seats.
They set off on their journey and lots of lame humor ensues including a scene where Roy and Candy have sex in the back of the Suburban while a crowd gathers outside and applaud them at completion. Even orangutangs at the zoo don’t get applause and they do it right in front of paying customers! All in all the characters were very weak although Billy Bob Thornton was somewhat interesting to me only because he’s freaky anyhow.
There were some interesting story-lines going on including Lonnie Earl having a fling with Candy which becomes a bigger part of the plot and Darlene’s dream to see the Grand Canyon and to see Tony Orlando (who makes a guest appearance). Other than that this was a very poorly written story that is predictable if not boring. I was sad to see Patrick Swayze playing a role so weak and bad after his powerhouse roles in movies such as “Dirty Dancing” and “Roadhouse”.
The story wraps up nicely for anyone who likes to watch movies to escape reality because the ending is just too fake and far flung for me. I would have thrown something through the TV if I were watching someone else’s and not my own TV. After watching this painful movie I now know why I never heard of it before, I seriously doubt they could even show this movie in prison because some inmate would complain his rights to good entertainment in jail were violated. The story just never reeled me in. I finished watching it, but I struggled to do so.
If you like stereotypical redneck/trailer trash characters you might like this one, but I say run don’t walk from “Waking Up In Reno”. If you do feel the need to own it you can try any trailer park tag sale or go here:
Scared Stiff Rating: 3/10. “You might be a Redneck….if you like this movie”
I never saw this one. Steve loves Patrick Swayze. Every St. Patrick’s day we donate money to the American Cancer Society in his name. We’re donating to St. Jude this year as well.