RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Citizen Ruth
Citizen Ruth

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Citizen Ruth (1996)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
83 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:24

Fresh:20

Rotten:4

Average Rating:6.9/10

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: A satirical look at the abortion issue, that takes jabs at both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice proponents. Ruth Stoops, a low-class, unintelligent, unfit mother of four discovers while in jail that... A satirical look at the abortion issue, that takes jabs at both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice proponents. Ruth Stoops, a low-class, unintelligent, unfit mother of four discovers while in jail that she's pregnant again. The judge charges her with endangering the fetus, but tells her in confidence that he'll reduce the charges if she has an abortion. When word of this gets out, it changes Ruth's life dramatically, as she becomes caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between Pro-Lifers and fervent Pro-Choicers, each of whom want to use Ruth to get their messages and propaganda across. The proceedings escalate to bizarre proportions -- and in the process Ruth is virtually forgotten about. That is, until Ruth makes a decision about her pregnancy... [More]

Starring: Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place

Starring: Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, M.C. Gainey, Kenneth Mars, David Graf, Tippi Hedren, Burt Reynolds, Alicia Witt, James Devney, Caveh Zahedi, Dean Ferrandini

Director: Alexander Payne

Director: Alexander Payne

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Apr 1, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Citizen Ruth
  • Meet Ruth Stoops. She's homeless, dumb as a cinder block, and loves to get high huffing spray paint. Life would be dandy if it weren't for one tiny problem -- she's gotten herself knocked up for the umpteenth time, and it seems like everybody's got an opinion about what she should do -- from an angry judge to God-fearing Baby-Savers to radical lesbian feminists. And Ruth just wants to party! Laura Dern stars in an award-winning bravura performance backed by a stellar ensemble cast including Burt Reynolds, Mary Kay Place, Swoosie Kurtz, Kelly Preston, Kurtwood Smith, and Tippi Hedren. Written and directed by the team who brought you ELECTION and ABOUT SCHMIDT, CITIZEN RUTH is a hilarious, provocative look at what happens when a sperm meets an egg and sparks fly.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Citizen Ruth

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    03/27/09
    Todd McCarthy
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
    03/31/08
    David Ansen
    David Ansen
    Newsweek
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Uncharacteristically of Payne, the film lacks a sharp point of view, unfloding as a series of gigs (some quite funny), trying to be too fair--for a satire--to both sides of the abortion issue.

    Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
    06/01/06
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    01/06/06
    Cole Smithey
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
    04/09/05
    Robin Clifford
    Robin Clifford
    Reeling Reviews

    Wicked comedy about abortion conflict. Dern is terrific.

    comment Comment
    04/01/05
    Brandon Judell
    Brandon Judell
    PopcornQ

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/08/05
    Susan Granger
    Susan Granger
    www.susangranger.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    08/30/04
    Janet Maslin
    Janet Maslin
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Payne didn't hit his stride until Election, but this is a good film.

    comment Comment
    06/07/04
    Alex Sandell
    Alex Sandell
    Juicy Cerebellum

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/04/04
    Jake Euker
    Jake Euker
    F5 (Wichita, KS)

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    12/18/03
    Dragan Antulov
    Dragan Antulov
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/07/03
    Carol Cling
    Carol Cling
    Las Vegas Review-Journal
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
    10/01/03
    Austin Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Payne's biting social satire about the abortion issue is shrewd and raucously entertaining. A smart and subversive comedy

    comment Comment
    06/04/03
    Frank Ochieng
    Frank Ochieng
    TheWorldJournal.com

    Worst of all is Dern, who is so gratingly offensive that by the end of the movie you really just want her to shut up more than anything else.

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
    04/04/03
    Christopher Null
    Christopher Null
    Filmcritic.com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    02/17/03
    Jeffrey Westhoff
    Jeffrey Westhoff
    Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

    An auspicious debut for director Payne that did more than hint at teh great things to come.

    comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Luke Y. Thompson
    Luke Y. Thompson
    New Times

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
    01/10/03
    Nick Davis
    Nick Davis
    Nick's Flick Picks
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
    11/06/02
    Jeff Strickler
    Jeff Strickler
    Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
    10/15/02
    Margaret A. McGurk
    Margaret A. McGurk
    Cincinnati Enquirer
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
    all

    Latest News for Citizen Ruth

    August 23, 2006: More Comedians Invited to "Chuck & Larry's" Wedding
    If your movie already has Adam Sandler marrying Kevin James, and a side order of Jessica Biel for desert, what more do you need to make a comedy? Oh yeah: Steve Buscemi and Dan... More...

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    15% 15% The Ugly Truth
    98% 98% Up
    36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
    52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
    45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    36% 36% Angels & Demons
    68% 68% Funny People
    25% 25% Four Christmases
    45% 45% Shorts

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    Total Recall

    Total Recall

    John Travolta's best reviewed movies

    RT on DVD

    RT on DVD

    Find the latest DVD and Blu-ray releases!

    RT's Gift Guide

    RT's Gift Guide

    Give the best movies, gear, and more!

    Ninja Assassin

    Ninja Assassin

    Learn to train like a ninja in this clip!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
    24
    • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
    10
    • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
    1
    • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
    108
    • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
    112
    • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
    32
    • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
    64
    • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
    20
    • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
    26
    • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
    51
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
    165
    • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
    129
    • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
    97
    • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
    75
    • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
    60
    • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
    54
    • Five Favorite Films with Werner Herzog
    50
    • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
    32
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Angels & Demons, Funny People, and Superman
    18
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    8
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    8
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    8
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    19
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    6
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    15
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    19
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    8
    • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
    28
    • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
    28
    • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
    14
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Citizen Ruth at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Wes Anderson on Fox
    Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

    The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

    The New Cult Canon
    The New Cult Canon External Link

    AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

    New Moon Portraits
    New Moon Portraits External Link

    TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

    Unsexiest Men Alive
    Unsexiest Men Alive External Link

    Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.