My original rating on this was 2 1/2 stars. I watched it years ago when it first came out, and can remember thinking it was a dumb movie with a stupid storyline. I was recently leant a copy of this (much to my "delight"), thought I had better at least attempt to watch it again before throwing it back like a hot potato!
Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed this. I can still see where my original gripes were - Winona, as Dinky, is really uglied up here, and there's some really dumb bits and things that don't make sense - but it is actually quite a sweet little story and years on I had quite a laugh at all the mullets and floral dresses on display. This movie was released in 1990, but it screams 80's and most of the outfits are in such bad taste it made my jaw drop. I don't remember thinking anything of it back when I first watched it, so I would say this really hasn't aged well from that side. The guy, Gerald, who has a crush on Dinky (what a name! I hope it is a nickname and not her birth name. This is never clarified in the film), is the biggest dork ever seen, though you get the impression he is meant to be a hot guy. (until the ending). The story of an outsider who has pinned her hopes on meeting her real mother, and how this mysterious woman (Roxy) has shaped the lives of many of the characters here. Not a perfect movie by any means, but has a nice message under it all and definitely worth a revisit for 80's fans.
January 18, 2008
