idontneedyourjunk Its a bit like blues brothers and a bit like thelma and louise.Crazy woman goes on a whirlwind adventure, dragging her family and hangers-on with her.Paxton only got a bit part, but it's an interesting movie with a great soundtrack.

Woodyanders Flighty'n'spunky Melba Stokes (a wonderfully zesty performance by Cloris Leachman), several members of her kooky family, and a couple of wacky misfits join forces to embark on a colorful crime spree in the 50's. Director Jonathan Demme, working from a sharp and witty script by Robert Thom, ably crafts a spirited and affectionate tribute to the gloriously kitschy 50's: Sparked by a nonstop zippy pace, a first-rate soundtrack of choice golden oldies, engagingly quirky characters, a very funny sense of off-the-wall humor, and a few exciting and well-staged action set pieces, this movie crackles with a certain infectiously bubbly energy that's a total treat to behold. Moreover, the cast play the campy material with tremendous joy and gusto: Ann Southern as Melba's feisty mother Sheba, Stuart Whitman as amiable cowboy Jim Bob, Linda Purl as Melba's sweet, pregnant daughter Cheryl, Don Most as Cheryl's dippy surfer boyfriend Shawn, Bryan England as tough greaser biker Snake, Merie Earle as spry nursing home escapee Bertha, Sally Kirkland as Jim Bob's ditsy wife Ella Mae, Jim Backus as ruthless businessman Mr. Albertson, and Dick Miller as bumbling cop Wilbur Janeway. Popping up in quick bits are Dennis Quaid, Bill Paxton, and Will Sampson. Bruce Logan's sunny cinematography gives the picture a nice bright look and makes cool use of wipes. Snotty Scotty and the Hankies supply a twangy and flavorsome score. An immensely fun flick.

gpeevers A mid-seventies drive-in flick from producer Roger Corman that wouldn't likely warrant much notice but for the fact it's the second feature from director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs).Typical story of the exploitation genre, begins decades earlier with family patriarch shot while being evicted from his farm in Arkansas. Flash forward to the 50's and Melba (Cloris Leachman) the farmer's daughter along with her mother (Ann Sothern) and daughter (Linda Purl) are evicted from their beauty parlor in California. Melba with family and hangers on (Stuart Whitman, Don Most) in tow decides they will return to the family farm and buy it back by initiating a cross country crime spree more in keeping with the 30's than the 50's.There are elements here that hint at a talented director in the making but the budget and the material with which the film is saddled really keep this from being any more than a cheap exploitation flick intended for the drive- in's.The film manages some of the sex and violence that one would associate with this kind of film but strangely they are both somewhat subdued by the odd decision to make this film for a PG rating. The laughs were not forth coming for me, perhaps the low brow approach would be more effective in an accommodating theater or drive-in. Either that or its directed to a different audience than I represent or its just outdated.

southpatcher Cloris Leachman was spinning off from a supporting role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" to headlining her own series "Phyllis" in 1975, the same year this goofy road movie was released. Leachman stars as Melba Stokes, who runs a beauty parlor in Long Beach, California with her mother Sheba (Ann Sothern) and her daughter Cheryl (Linda Purl). When the shop is repossessed by banker Jim Backus aka Thurston Howell III (a great little cameo) Leachman and ladies head back to Arkansas and the family farm which was stolen away from them when Melba was a girl. Along for the ride is Cheryl's boyfriend, surfer boy Donny Most aka Ralph Malph who finds out he's going to be a daddy thanks to Cheryl. The ladies knock over a filling station, which sets about their plan to rob their way back to Arkansas earning the money to buy back the farm.Stopping over in Las Vegas, Melba hooks up with Jim Bob Trotter (Stuart Whitman). Cheryl falls for greasy biker Snake (Bryan Englund, Leachman's real life son), and Sheba makes a friend in elderly Bertha (Merie Earle) who believes that the secret to casino winning is to spout cliches before she pulls the handle on the slot machine. Jim Bob and Melba decide to have a phony wedding so the makeshift gang can rob the chapel, and then it's back on the road!The ladies continue their crime spree, knocking over a grocery store and a bank. Meanwhile, back in Texas, Jim Bob's depressing wife (Sally Kirkland) is startled to hear that he's been kidnapped. Another plan by Melba and company to raise money, this one turns out in a bad way for the group. When Melba and her gang finally return to Jerusalem, Arkansas they are disappointed to see that the farmland of their youth has been turned into a country club. Needless to say, there is a hijacked wedding and more car chases.This is a funny movie (with a GREAT final scene) that is given spirited performances by Leachman, Sothern, and especially Merie Earle as the nursing home escapee who finds a few thrills in her last days. There is some surprising violence, an eclectic 50's soundtrack, and control over the whole crazy-quilt through the direction of Jonathan Demme. The most touching scene in the film is when the weary travellers stand under a tree and remember their fallen friends by "shouting them into Heaven".Hopefully, this one will be released on DVD in my lifetime.