Main Cast: Dean Silvers, Scarlett Johansson, Aleksa Palladino, Mary Kay Place, Glenn Fitzgerald, Angie Phillips
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The debut feature from writer/director Lisa Krueger stars Scarlett Johansson and Aleksa Palladino as the titular Manny and Lo, orphaned teenaged sisters who avoid foster homes by living on the run, stealing food, and sleeping in random model homes. Older sister Lo is the rude, bossy, incompetent leader, and younger sister Manny is her thoughtful, realistic, logical underling. It quickly becomes apparent that Lo is pregnant and they won't be able to continue their wandering lifestyle of "keep moving and you won't get nailed." After a significant stage of denial, Lo goes to a hospital for an abortion and is denied. Quickly running out of options, Lo comes up with plan that seems ridiculous to the observant narrator Manny. Since they don't know anything about birthing babies, they kidnap Elaine (Mary Kay Place), a middle-aged woman dressed as a nurse who works in a maternity store. Together, the three women squat in an abandoned house in the woods so the disgruntled Lo can have her baby. Eventually, the owner of the house comes home and the captive Elaine resorts to a strange solution to the problem. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Review
It's interesting to note how few movies are made on the subject of pregnancy, given how frequently and variously the situation actually occurs in the human experience. Lisa Krueger's debut film, Manny & Lo, thankfully addresses the issue with a quirky, gentle wit. Tough as nails Laurel (called Lo) is played by Aleksa Palladino with the appropriate snarl and detachment of a 16-year-old who happens to be a pregnant runaway. Her impulsiveness effectively fuels the survival elements and kidnapping plot; her desperation and ineptitude makes the silly premise believable and fun. Providing the narrative voice, Scarlett Johansson gives the 11-year-old Amanda (called Manny) a calm intelligence, bringing a heart and soul to the situation. Their bickering sisterly interplay is tempered when they meet Mary Kay Place, ideally cast as Elaine, a matronly saleswoman and knower of all things prenatal. The three women form a bizarre family structure as the disorganized young criminals lose their direction and enviably grow closer to their hyper-feminine captive, leading up to a genuinely warm conclusion. John Lurie's jazz and rock-influenced musical score also adds to the creative and playful atmosphere. Marking the breakthrough of its two lead actresses, Manny & Lo was nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards in 1996. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Cameron Boyd - Chuck; Novella Nelson - Georgine; Dean Silvers; Paul Guilfoyle - Mr. Humphreys
Credit
Gary Kauffman - Associate Producer, Ellen Parks - Casting, Jennifer Parker - Costume Designer, Wendy Jo Cohen - First Assistant Director, Lisa Krueger - Director, Colleen Sharp - Editor, Klaus Volkenborn - Executive Producer, John Lurie - Composer (Music Score), Sharon Lomofsky - Production Designer, Tom Krueger - Cinematographer, Dean Silvers - Producer, Marlen Hecht - Producer, Pope Entertainment Group - Producer, Dina Goldman - Set Designer, Irin Straus - Sound/Sound Designer, Lisa Krueger - Screenwriter
