We dare you to not laugh at those politically incorrect jokes, even while you feel sick to your stomach for doing so.
Nurse Betty (2000)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:118
Fresh:100
Rotten:18
Average Rating:7.2/10
Consensus: Nurse Betty's script is delightfully imaginative, while both the direction and ensemble performances are excellent.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] strong violence, pervasive language and a scene of sexuality
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins
Genre: Television
Theatrical Release:Sep 8, 2000 Wide
Box Office: $25,010,899
Synopsis: When small town waitress Betty Sizemore (Renée Zellweger) accidentally witnesses the grisly murder of her underhanded car-dealing husband (Aaron Eckhart), she copes with the trauma by retreating... When small town waitress Betty Sizemore (Renée Zellweger) accidentally witnesses the grisly murder of her underhanded car-dealing husband (Aaron Eckhart), she copes with the trauma by retreating into a dream-like state. Not only is Betty completely in denial about her husband's death, but she now believes she is the one-time love of her favorite soap opera character, Dr. David Ravell (Greg Kinnear). Leaving her Kansas home in one of her husband's used cars to "reunite" with the doctor, Betty unwittingly carries drugs that the killers (Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock) are after. As Betty arrives in Los Angeles to seek out the fictional Dr. Ravell, the hit men aren't far behind. Director Neil LaBute's third feature combines elements of thrillers, romance flicks, and road movies into a strangely unique film. Unlike the emotional brutality present in LaBute's previous films (IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS), the violence in NURSE BETTY is physical and brief, quickly giving way to a more light-hearted comedic tone. The title character, Renée Zellweger, is sweet, determined, and utterly charming, while Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock are perfectly suited for their off-beat hit men roles. With its clever script and sure-handed direction, NURSE BETTY makes for a winning oddball comedy about the fine line between fantasy and reality. [More]
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear, Aaron Eckhart, Crispin Glover, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Tia Texada
Director: Neil LaBute
Director: Neil LaBute
Screenwriter: John Richards, James Flamberg
Producer: Gail Mutrux, Steve Golin
Composer: Rolfe Kent
Studio: USA Films
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Reviews for Nurse Betty
We are constantly fearful for Betty -- less worried that the evil killers will catch up with her than that reality will. Despite this basic uneasiness, there is much to enjoy in Nurse Betty.
You get the feeling the makers of Nurse Betty are daring you not to get the big satire they've concocted. And in place of the customary TV laugh track, LaBute simply bludgeons you over the head with jokes.
In terms of the taste it leaves behind, the difference between LaBute's first two films and Nurse Betty is the difference between eating a bucket of bad clams and coming upon them deliberately placed in a seafood dinner.
Nurse Betty isn't LaBute's masterpiece, but it's definitely a solid, funny, and unique film, the likes of which you won't see again this year.
Original, moving and witty without being condescending, this is certain to be one of the best American films of the year.
Apart from a few punchy chuckles, Nurse Betty is the drag end of a wan hipness that lacks juice and focus.
Nurse Betty is a touch more serious than Raising Arizona, but definitely lighter than Fargo. Best of all, it's in that league of movie making.
It is about daydreaming and wish fulfillment, as directed by Neil LaBute.
Zellweger is terrific, and Kinnear's mixture of smarm and sensitivity clicks beautifully into the premise of the film.
Freeman's coldblooded but warm-hearted performance has a nuanced and enigmatic quality that communicates authority and suggests greatness.
A masterful human comedy and a sincere drama, as imaginative as it is unpredictable.
Latest News for Nurse Betty
August 31, 2006:
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