Citizen Ruth Reviews

Number one its ballsy, I mean really a comedy about abortion is just not the type of film that is made too often. Number two, Laura Dern is one of the bet actors alive and here she is given a really great character. Ruth is a woman who really only cares about herself and she becomes the unwilling pawn in the ideological tug of war that ensues. As unlikeable as Ruth is at times, we really do feel for her and Laura Dern makes that happen. Alexander Payne ingeniously parodies both sides of the issue but it never leaves the realm of believability.

Sketchy satire with loser as unwitting bargaining chip in war on abortion.

"Citizen Ruth" is the most blatant satire I have ever seen, and it's one of the funniest as well. Alexander Payne is such a gifted writer and his execution is usually spot-on as well. "Citizen Ruth" is not his best film, but a darn good one regardless. It's eccentric and a little out and I doubt that very many will really like it, but it's funny and endearing and Laura Dern gives a wonderfully childish performance as the titular character. Also, Kurtwood Smith is great as well. I absolutely love watching him act. Why isn't he cast in roles like this more often?

Brilliant! Laura Dern gives an outstanding performance, though the excellent supporting cast shine as beautifully. The film is as unbiased as it is hilarious.

Laura Dern is hilarious in this.

"Ruth, you listen to me! Don't you do it! What if I'd aborted you? Well at least I wouldn't have had to suck your boyfriends cock! Don't you bring that up again! That's ancient history! I've been saved! Fuck you!
A brilliant dark comedy about abortion. Laura Dern gives the performance of a lifetime. Great cast and a great score.

Successfully satirizes both sides of the abortion debate (at least circa 1996). Still conflicted about the ending (though I love how both sides end up fighting over literally no one), but this is a film that needs to be seen and discussed more.

So this film is funny in some parts but mostly sad...but true. the portiat painted is one of irresponsiblity, cycle of ignorance and the idea of brainwashing. Everyone has an opinion on abortion and people want the babies to be born but what happens after. (ON my soapbox) advocate sexual matureness and use protection for pets sake.

it was stupid of them to trust her with free access to so many chemicals, booze, & cash. they fully knew she was an addict and did nothing to take that into account and so got what they deserved. although the baby didn't...

It was like a train wreck, I couldn't stop watching. This movie is so off the wall, kind of like the stepford wives.

Beh. Didn't get much out of it other than seeing another stepping stone from where Alexander Payne came from.

Doooon't give up on Baby Taaaanyaaa, doooon't give up on Baby Taaaanyaaa...
Who does American satire better than Mr. Alexander Payne? All of his films (this, his earliest, along with Election, About Schmidt and Sideways) focus on people just a little too absurd to be living (i.e. Tracy Flick, Ruth Stoops, Warren Schmidt), taking up residence in places in America that always seem to be cloudy, as if even the weather couldn't give a shit about them.

Laura Dern plays Ruth Stoops, a homeless druggie addicted to snuffing patio sealant, who winds up pregnant and sentenced to a jail term for carelessly threatening the life of her unborn child... that is, until the judge bargains that he'll drop her term if she gets an abortion. Some women from a group called the Babysavers end up sharing a cell with Ruth, and one all-American couple (seen above) takes pity on her and invites her into their home, hoping to clean up the hopeless Ruth. From there, satire ensues.

What's amazing about a movie about abortion is what side it takes; Citizen Ruth decides firmly not to side with either group, and in lesser hands the movie could have seemed wishy-washy, but under the direction of Mr. Payne, every satirical moment works hilariously, and the closing sequence is almost breathtaking in its scope and message, without being preachy.

Laura Dern is strange-looking, but she works as white trash. The supporting cast is hilarious .. no other real big names, besides Burt Reynolds as a supah-creepy old man (as usual). Definitely worth a rental.

A comedy about the abortion issue is a tough sell, but it almost works here. It's a shame, too, because the film has a lot to say about the lunacy of both political extremes that champion human rights, while trampling everyone in their way.

this is a really good movie that surprised me. most effective if seen when it came out, when the abortion debate was raging but hold up, shows all the sides, and laura dern is fantastic.

There's a little thing called an unlikeable protagonist. I'm not a fan of an unlikeable protagonist. But still, it's an Alex Payne film, so at least it has some redeemable qualities.

the controversial subject matter of alexander payne's "citizen ruth" may make the film often difficult to watch, partly due to laura dern's very convincing performance, though unlike "the descendants", the film never feels like a drama. this isn't a bad thing by any means, as payne's brand of humor is laced all through out the film and often in the oddest moments. it's not as good as most of payne's films, but it's still really good.

"Citizen Ruth" is the most blatant satire I have ever seen, and it's one of the funniest as well. Alexander Payne is such a gifted writer and his execution is usually spot-on as well. "Citizen Ruth" is not his best film, but a darn good one regardless. It's eccentric and a little out and I doubt that very many will really like it, but it's funny and endearing and Laura Dern gives a wonderfully childish performance as the titular character. Also, Kurtwood Smith is great as well. I absolutely love watching him act. Why isn't he cast in roles like this more often?

Very funny satire which pokes fun of both sides of the abortion debate. Laura Dern gives a wonderful performance

The success of The Descendants in 2011 made me track down a copy of this, Alexander Payne's debut feature which somehow I missed on its inital release, despite reading every film mag and working in a video rental store at the time. Maybe if I did read about it then, I forgot about it quickly because its premise seemed not for me - for Citizen Ruth is an abortion comedy.

An abortion comedy. Right from the start of his career we can see Alexander Payne reaching to do something different. For the majority Citizen Ruth works very well indeed - at least while you're watching it. Laura Dern is very good indeed as Ruth - and there are some nice supporting turns from people like Kurtwood Smith, Burt Reynolds and Swoozie Kurtz. The biggest problem facing Citzen Ruth is that it doesn't quite hold together - Payne is so keen on having Ruth experience both sides of the abortion argument that the film comes closer to a series of loosely connected sketches rather than a full blown narrative. Some interesting characters are interesting only to be abandoned before the half way stage - the daughter of the uptight pro-lifers who wants to be a wild child suggests some interesting opposition to the main argument of the film, but she is quickly forgotten.

Nevertheless, Citizen Ruth is protean Alexander Payne, and as such it makes for fascinating viewing. Not a great debut, perhaps, but very enjoyable whilst your watching. I just don't think I'll ever return to it.

Over-all, this movie fell short for me. The movie does a good job of poking fun at both extremist sides of the abortion battle. The story idea was good. The dialogue and the casting was pretty good. All of the principle characters were well acted.

Written and directed by Alexander Payne (see SIDEWAYS).

Laura Dern gives a creditable performance as an irresponsible, ne er-do-well, occasional reproducing mother, and constant/addicted? huffer. There is nothing about her character to root for. Its only a little less difficult to root for a huffer; than, say, an axe murder or a pedophile. The humor in her character was hard to relate to.

So, the story plays itself out. Our sometimes pregnant huffer, wanders to and fro; trying to gain some advantage and find her next inhalant high. There are a few amusing moments. But, the whole thing just sort of peters out at the end.