Stateside Movie Review 2004

Romantic soap opera that writer/director Anselmo says is based on a true story. The movie starts in 1984 with hospitalized Marine Mark (Tucker) flashing back to 1980. While drunk, high schooler Mark gets into a serious car accident that his wealthy dad (Mantegna) fixes by having Mark enlist in the Corps rather than doing jail time. On leave, Mark visits gal pal Sue (Bruckner) in a mental hospital and meets her schizophrenic ex-actress/singer roomie Dori (Cook). They immediately fall for each other and the drama ensues. Tucker fares best as his character matures from boy to man under Kilmer's tough drill instructor, while Cook is playing standard Hollywood-crazy. Movie might have benefited from a longer run time since the overstuffed plot doesn't have time to develop. Penny Marshall has an uncredited cameo as a nurse.

Distribution

First Look Home Entertainment, 8000 Sunset Blvd., East Penthouse, Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (323)337-1000, Fax: (323)337-1078, Email: info@firstlookmedia.com, URL: http://www.firstlookmedia.com, Remarks: A division of First Look Pictures

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 96 minutes.
Originally from United States, German.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Military: Marines, Military: Navy, Romantic Drama, Period Piece: 1980s, Mental Hospitals

Screenplay

Reverge Anselmo

Cast

Rachael Leigh Cook, Jonathan Tucker, Agnes Bruckner, Val Kilmer, Joe Mantegna, Carrie Fisher, Diane Venora, Ed Begley, Michael Goduti, Daniel Franzese, Penny Marshall

Cinematography

Adam Holender

Director

Reverge Anselmo

Music

Joel McNeely

Other

Whit Norris, Randy Gerston, Suzy Elmiger, Michael Ward, Cynthia Flynt, Michael Shaw

Producer

Robert Greenhut, Cinealpha, First Look Media, Seven Hills Prods., Samuel Goldwyn Films