Themes: Woman In Jeopardy, Unrequited Love, Dangerous Attraction
Main Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Pullman, Joan Cusack, Dean Stockwell, Joan Plowright
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Popular comic and television personality Ellen DeGeneres had her first starring role in a feature film in this black comedy. Martha Alston (DeGeneres) is a thirtysomething single working as a producer for a talk show. Ever since Martha's younger sister got married, her parents have been after her to settle down, but Martha has had little luck finding the right guy. On Valentine's Day, Martha is depressed and drinking at a bar when she meets Whitman Crawford (Bill Pullman), who seems like the perfect man -- he's good looking, sensitive, intelligent, and affectionate. However, when she makes the mistake of telling her new beau that he can be himself around her, she discovers the real Whitman -- he's a horrible poet, he likes awful music, he enjoys shoplifting ("Stolen beer just tastes better!"), and he's a borderline psychotic who doses her with LSD for fun. What's more, his mother (Joan Plowright) and ex-girlfriend (Joan Cusack) hate Martha's guts and don't mind telling her so. So how can Martha convince her friends and family that she wants nothing to do with the man of her dreams? More importantly, how does she convince Whitman? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
John Livingston - Walter; Wayne Alexander - Man at Opera; Louie Anderson - Himself; Christine Cattall - Nancy Culpepper; Ellen Cleghorne - Jane; Maddie Corman - Missy; John Cothran, Jr. - Old Man; Hope Davis - Annie; Hector Elias - Mexican Lieutenant; Robert Goulet - Dick Braxton; Polly Holliday - Mrs. Alston; Casey Kasem - Mexican Detective; Jean Kasem - Herself; Christopher Kriesa - Cop #2; Frank Roman - James; Camille Saviola - Consuela; Peter White - Mr. Alston; Shea Farrell - Priest; Frank Lugo - Priest; Jonathan Hernandez - Himself; Bob Harvey - Elder Neighbor; Brad Henke - Bob; Gilbert B. Combs - Bartender
Credit
Nancy Patton - Art Director, Jane Jenkins - Casting, Janet Hirshenson - Casting, Ira Shuman - Co-producer, Ingrid Ferrin - Costume Designer, Marty Eli Schwartz - First Assistant Director, Nick Castle, Jr. - Director, Patrick Kennedy - Editor, David Hoberman - Executive Producer, Craig Safan - Composer (Music Score), Craig Safan - Songwriter, Doug Kraner - Production Designer, John Schwartzman - Cinematographer, Martin F. Katz - Producer, Daniel Maltese - Set Designer, Brad Ricker - Set Designer, Mark Hopkins Mcnabb - Sound/Sound Designer, Chris Matheson - Screenwriter, Kerry Ehrin - Screenwriter, Craig Munson - Screenwriter
