16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very funny, awesome performances, June 22, 2002
Being a huge Gary Oldman fan, I bought this DVD the second it came out on..., and I can't say I got dissappointed.
The basic storyline:
Buford (Oldman) and Billy (Skeet Ulrich) are two petty criminals, who get sentenced to serve 10 years in jail. They manage to escape though, and get seperated. Billy rescues a baby from a car wreck, and Oldman spots a perfect opportunity for extortion when he's contacted by Billy.
The story goes on with Billy growing really attached to the baby. On their way to find out who the baby's parents are, they encounter a trailer park community (featuring Peter Green ('Zed' from Pulp Fiction) and the gorgeous Radha Mitchell), and a typical car dealer (Ed O'Neill (Yes, Al Bundy)).
Overall, the movie is both funny and heartwarming.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW, February 11, 2005
Like everyone else, I discovered this film by accident. I've seen it twice now and I would love to see it a few more times. It was such a delight. I've been waiting for Skeet Ulrich to give another performance as endearing as his wonderful turn in "Touch" and I think he did it here. He has the most amazingly innocent eyes and no matter what the situation in this movie, you always trust Billy's intentions, if not his judgment.
Billy Raedeen and Buford Dill met in reform school. Buford, played by the magnificent chameleon, Gary Oldman, is an older boy with a criminal streak. He's not a bad ass, just an oportunist. He enlists young Billy in his schemes and the two of them land in jail repeatedly. At the kickoff of our story, they've been busted once again for hanging out in a small-town post office with a sixer of PBR, reading peoples' mail. In court, they barely take anything seriously until the judge decides that they're clearly a bad influence on each other and need to be sent to separate prisons. Fortunately, the boys are freed during someone else's jailbreak. Although that separation they so dreaded does occur.
On a deserted highway, Billy thumbs for a ride and a family stops, ostensibly to pick him up. They are running on a flat tire and the patriarch of the unruly brood offers to take Billy along if he fixes the flat. He obliges, but he's stiffed for the ride. Later that night, in the midst of a rainstorm, Billy sits miserably in the open back of a truck. The family's station wagon appears behind him, trying in vain to pass the truck. Billy decides a little revenge is in order so he laughs and moons the dad. Enraged, cursing and flipping Billy off, the man drives his car off the road and slams it into a bridge. Startled, the truck driver hits the wall under the overpass and gets stuck there. Billy jumps out and tries to save the family. Only their infant can be removed from the wreckage before it explodes.
And that's only the beginning!
This is a terrific comedy. Terribly sweet but with a Coenesque edge. The actors are terrific. You will love all these characters. Well, except for Vern and maybe Sonny, but that's by design. Listen for the wisdom of the Dog. Enjoy the sheer adorability of Skeet Unlrich's smile, that cutie-pie baby, and the lovely Radha Mitchell. Behold a Gary Oldman character you have truly never, ever seen the likes of before. And be sure to stick around for his country-western two-step over the credits with Mary Steenburgen. Mary, Mary. What can I say about Mary? She's always amazing. This character is 180 degrees from her current role on the superb "Joan Of Arcadia".
There are some really fun cameos that people have already mentioned and the tone is mostly light and fast-paced. But beware that there is a lot of salty language, some nudity and a few spurts of violence. Still, all-in-all, everything works out well for the people you love in the film. And that's why I think we find this flick so satisfying. The ending leaves you with a tear of joy in your eye and big smile on your face. And how many movies can we say that about these days?
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My find of the year, September 9, 2004
There are plenty of great movies out there, but most of them get a fair amount of press. A find is that movie you don't expect anything from, you probably never even heard of it, and suddenly you're telling all of your friends to see it. I recently saw Nobody's Baby, and it's easily one of my best finds ever.
It seems all of this movie's reviewers have a similar story, so I'll try not to be too redundant, but I just had to post another 5 star review because this movie deserves an audience. A comedy that delivers great laughs is reason enough to watch, but this movie has a huge heart that delivers its message more powerfully than some of the best dramas do, and that's what makes it my find of the year. That said, try not expect the best movie you've ever seen from it, because part of what made this great for me was expecting nothing at all.
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