Jane Fonda in "Georgia Rule"
courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment
"More Jane Needed"

Jane Fonda is semi-retired. She only makes one movie every year or so. So when you get a chance to see a "Jane Fonda" movie you want to see a lot of Jane Fonda. In her new film on DVD, "Georgia Rule," you get a lot of Lindsey Lohan and too much Felicity Huffman - but not enough Jane.

"Georgia Rule" is one of those rare movies that is just a mess in a million ways, but what is on the screen is interesting. Fonda, Lohan and Huffman are the stars of the film and they take their sow's ears of roles and make them into silk purses. It is a case of talent surviving anything that is thrown at it.

Lilly (Huffman) is a woman who is at her wit's end where her daughter Rachel (Lohan) is concerned. She finally comes up with the idea to pawn her off on her own mother, Georgia (Fonda), who lives in Idaho. Rachel is not thrilled with the idea but decides to bide her time there.

Georgia has a strict set of rules for anyone who lives in her house. Rachel breaks them all. Still she eventually takes the job Georgia has found for her as a receptionist for the town veterinarian, a man named Simon (Dermot Mulroney). She also finds a boy who interests her. His name is Harlan (Garrett Hedlund) and he is a strict Mormon. That means he is virtuous where she is promiscuous.

Eventually Rachel admits to Simon that her troubles started when her stepfather (Cary Elwes) sexually abused her when she was twelve years old. This revelation brings Lilly back to town to try to determine if Rachel's allegations are true. It is not until the final moments of the film that the audience finds out this answer.

Garry Marshall directed the movie and he could not get all the plot sorted out in a way that makes a lot of sense. There are subplots on top of subplots in this movie such as the early relationship between Lilly and Simon, or Lilly's distance from Georgia because of her father's problems. These two get short shrift as the focus of the movie must stay on Rachel and her complexities.

Lohan is the best part of the movie. She is the focus of the film and she portrays her character to a "t". She looks great and acts even better. Fonda, as stated, needs more to do in the film but what she does, she does with gusto. Huffman is okay in a mildly thankless role. She is capable of much more but never gets an opportunity to show it.

Mulroney is sweet and loveable in his role and Elwes is sneaky and despicable in his. Hector Elizondo has a brief cameo as a Basque man with a hernia. Elizondo always appears in Marshall's movies.

Maybe if they had given Fonda more to do the movie would not have been as big a mess as it is. On the other hand maybe nothing could have saved it.

One of the big hits of the commercial network television season was "Ugly Betty." Millions tuned in to see this "fish out of water" story of a less than beautiful on the outside young woman adjusting to life working in the world of physically beautiful people. America Ferrara became America's newest sweetheart as Betty.

Now on DVD is "Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season: The Bettytfied Edition." This DVD contains all twenty-three episodes so you can swamp yourself with all things "Betty." Then there are also bonus features that take you behind the scenes and into the world of Betty.

This is another of those "must have" DVD's and it is just in time to get you primed for the new season that starts later this month. Betty is a winner and you will be too when you get "Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season: The Bettyfied Edition."

Dane Cook has become quite the Hollywood star, appearing later this month opposite Jessica Alba in "Good Luck Chuck." But his career has not always been so successful. He made two pilots for TV series, neither of which got picked up by the networks.

But in this day of DVD's nothing is lost forever, and you can see both of these pilots plus outtakes and gag reels on "Dane Cook: The Lost Pilots." What may surprise you is that these "dead" pilots are much better than some of the things that actually got on the air. Go figure!

It's a little early for Halloween shows but the new film version of "Halloween" is playing at your local six-plex and now there is a new Mickey Mouse DVD that is Halloween themed. The DVD is titled "Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Treat."

Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Goofy and Pluto are the stars of this show, but they also get a visit from the "Little Einsteins" cast. All of them have Halloween themed adventures and a lot of fun - which means fun for your kids too. So rush the season a little and have Halloween fun a month early.

And carry over the Halloween mood as you watch another new DVD "Return To Halloweentown: Ultimate Secret Edition." This DVD is extra special because Lucas Grabeel is in it. Grabeel plays an important role as a friend who helps the heroine Marnie (Sara Paxton).

Grabeel is one off the stars of "High School Musical 1 and 2" so he is a big deal to kids. I watch with them just to see Debbie Reynolds reprise her role as Aggie. Now there's real talent!
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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