Gas Food Lodging

1992

Gas Food Lodging

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

80%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 15

74%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 2,359
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Movie Info

Based on a novel by Richard Peck called Don't Look and It Won't Hurt, Allison Anders's melodramatic coming-of-age tale Gas Food Lodging takes place in Laramie, NM, a small town right off the highway. Nora (Brooke Adams) is a truck-stop waitress who lives in a trailer park with her two teenaged daughters, Trudi (Ione Skye) and Shade (Fairuza Balk). While Trudi sleeps around and defies her mother, Shade spends her time at the local cinema and wishes she could have a dad like a normal family. One day, Trudi hooks up with a visiting geologist (Robert Knepper) and spends a magical evening in a cave with him. However, he turns up missing and Trudi finds herself pregnant. Meanwhile, Shade's romantic advances are rejected by Darius (Donovan Leitch), but she finds something new with film projectionist Javier (Jacob Vargas). Shade's attempts at finding a husband for her mom are unsuccessful, but Nora ends up meeting satellite TV installation man Hamlet Humphrey (David Lansbury). Features a cameo appearance from Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis, who also wrote the original music.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Allison Anders
  • Written By:
    Allison Anders
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Cast

Brooke Adams
as Nora
Ione Skye
as Trudi
Fairuza Balk
as Shade
James Brolin
as John
Robert Knepper
as Dank
David Landsbury
as Hamlet Humphrey
David Lansbury
as Hamlet
Donovan Leitch
as Darius
Chris Mulkey
as Raymond
Jacob Vargas
as Javier
Laurie O'Brien
as Thelma
Julie Condra
as Tanya
Adam Biesk
as Brett
Leigh Hamilton
as Kim
Diane Behrens
as Hostess
J. Mascis
as Cecil
Tiffany Anders
as Persi
Jeff McDonald
as Long Haired Boy
Sissy Boyd
as Rocio
Jeffrey McDonald
as Langhaariger
William "Bill" Kemp
as Jock
Graci Lund
as Girl
Shirley Smith
as Bubbly Mother
George R. Parker
as Trucker
Jeff Miller
as Rock Boy
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Critic Reviews for Gas Food Lodging

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (3)

View All Critic Reviews (15)

Audience Reviews for Gas Food Lodging

  • Feb 01, 2010
    I found this a bit depressing....kind of feeling that Hope, too, had finally flown the coop. Having said that, it IS a good film. It was a widely-acclaimed independent film in its day & has an interesting story to tell with a fine cast to tell it. It's just a bit depressing, that's all.
    mirabella 1 Super Reviewer
  • Jan 20, 2010
    Can't remember it too clearly as it has been a few years but I remember liking both Brooke Adams and Ione Skye.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jul 09, 2008
    Excellent indie outing with some outstanding performances.
    Anthony V Super Reviewer
  • Jan 22, 2008
    This is an old favourite of mine. I upgraded from VHS to DVD quite some time ago, but never quite got around to rewatching it until now. What can I say? This is one of those rare movies that I think I enjoyed more over time rather than think it is not as good, or like it as a nostalgia piece. This is for sure one of Fairuza Balk's best roles - she is an actress I think could have gone a long way, I am surprised she wasn't more successful. She is perfect here as Shade, living in a caravan park with her mother and her troubled older sister, Trudi (Ione Skye - also a good role for her). I think the good thing about rewatching it now is that I can identify now with all three of the women, rather than just the daughters. These are very well written women characters, and this film has a lot of depth. Donovan Leitch is also excellent here as Darius, and also the guy who plays Javier (I am unsure who he is). The rest of the men don't fare so well here, but this really is a movie for and about woman. Highly recommend it and have changed my original score of 4 to 5!
    Nicki M Super Reviewer
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