Waking Up In Reno is not the kind of movie that you're going to find very many critics raving about. Not because it wasn't an entertaining movie, but because they have their reputations to consider. Actually, this is a largely entertaining road movie starring the unlikely foursome of Billy Bob Thornton, Patrick Swayze, Natasha Richardson and Charlize Theron. Just to get my little strange Boneman observations out of the way - this movie has a coincidental significance. As I've mentioned before, it was indeed strange how in the last 3 years two African American actresses have won best actress for movies with Monster in the title. Waking Up in Reno figures into this strange vortex because it features a sex scene between Billy Bob (who had so much sex with Halle Berry in Monster's Ball) with Charlize Thereon who won best actress for Monster. This is the way my mind works.

Number two this film features one of the only performance by Patrick Swayze that I didnt hate with a passion (Ghost being the other exception). He plays the foil of the jokes and kind of picked-on toady, and he manages to do so, without the slightest bit of self-pity - it's a great performance. Number three, Billy Bob Thornton who plays the sleezeball used car salesman, does so with impeccable comic timing and just the right amount of self-righteousness. This movie drags from time to time and it's a bit of a one trick pony, but just watching Natasha Richardson and Charlize Theron play a couple of near-Jerry Springer White Trash queenies is worth the whole project.

I don't need to bother you with the crux of the conflict that develops in this film, it's fairly trite and predictable, but the way the characters try to come to grips with it, is quite well-done and is revelatory of a part of human nature that you rarely see explored by White Trash characters. I've got to give this one a thumbs up - it's not profound or particularly thought-provoking, but it's pretty damned entertaining and funny and that's all they were shooting for. Screw the critics, I'm going thumbs up.