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The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

R 1993 1h 39m Comedy List
91% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
When aspiring cheerleader Shanna (Frankie Ingrassia) becomes overzealous in her efforts to win votes, the school administration bars her from tryouts. And when Shanna's snotty rival, Verna (Elizabeth Ruscio), succeeds in making the team, Shanna's mother, Wanda (Holly Hunter), decides it's a mere issue of supply and demand -- and so plots to hire a hit man to create a vacancy on the cheerleading squad. When her brother-in-law (Beau Bridges) tips off the authorities, a scandal ensues.

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Tony Scott Variety Full of daffiness, greed and dark-hued humor, whole package is a hoot. Feb 15, 2018 Full Review Howard Waldstein CBR It’s a deadly, self-aware comedy that proves to be a potent, prescient piece of forgotten film. Jul 18, 2023 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy [Holly Hunter gives] one of the great comic performances in modern times. Rated: 9/10 Dec 5, 2016 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault There's a lot to laugh at here. But there's a lot more that's disquieting. Rated: A May 9, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 15, 2005 Full Review Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette Rated: 3/5 Jan 19, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (12) audience reviews
Jeff M I hate to embarrass myself by admitting this, but watching this HBO movie makes me absolutely giddy. Unfortunately, I can't think of a better adjective to describe my excitement. I'm as giddy as a school girl. It is one of the most brilliant hybrids of satire and docudrama I've ever seen, and it is basically one of the very few movies I've seen about which I wouldn't change a thing. I've decided to stop apologizing for my constant drooling over Holly Hunter, so when I say this may be my favorite performance of hers, it is not to be taken lightly. I can't describe the degree of happiness she gives me in this movie. The fact that this was released on HBO the same year THE PIANO and THE FIRM were released theatrically is mind boggling to the extreme. And it may be the greatest year any actor or actress has had ever. But the whole cast is perfection. Swoosie Kurtz, a familiar face but sickeningly underrated talent, takes a role that could have been an absolute embarrassment and plays it to comic perfection. The filmmakers here beautifully skewer the pretension of 98.6% of most of these type of Lifetime movie events of the week and simultaneously draw us into the story. It is among the most rewatchable movies I've ever seen (I've seen it at least a dozen times), and it never ceases to bring me cinematic nirvana. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/24 Full Review Audience Member My favorite movie to watch over and over. Something very real about how over the top it is. Beautifully acted, subtle slaps in the face. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Holy Hunter was great but this movie was boring. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Subversive and with a deliciously dark flavour, Ritchie's '93 TV movie offers an inventive biopic that satirizes the absurdity of small town American values (much like Ritchie's 'Smile') and the country's distorted love of psychos. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member There's a lot to laugh at here. But there's a lot more that's disquieting. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a loved comedy, has great performances, great soundtrack and a very interesting true story, but I think it will make more sense to Texans than any other person in the world. I didn't like it - I've seen many movies such as this one from the 90's and this was no exception to any rule. Quite boring, I thought. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom

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Movie Info

Synopsis When aspiring cheerleader Shanna (Frankie Ingrassia) becomes overzealous in her efforts to win votes, the school administration bars her from tryouts. And when Shanna's snotty rival, Verna (Elizabeth Ruscio), succeeds in making the team, Shanna's mother, Wanda (Holly Hunter), decides it's a mere issue of supply and demand -- and so plots to hire a hit man to create a vacancy on the cheerleading squad. When her brother-in-law (Beau Bridges) tips off the authorities, a scandal ensues.
Director
Michael Ritchie
Producer
James Manos Jr.
Rating
R, TV-MA
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 1, 2004
Runtime
1h 39m