The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag (1992) User Reviews (25)

Not nearly as bad as the comments

[Art1-2 · 6/10 · 22 April 2002]

A bit too violent to be a comedy, but come on folks, it wasn't that bad. The story is that behind every person is someone to know, and that every person needs to risk and live.

OK, granted Beaudeen didn't have to use the knife in such graphic manners, but overall, good dialogue and decent acting.

Admittedly All Over The Place

[andyetris · 6/10 · 5 July 2006]

I get a big kick out of this film, partly because I know a librarian named Betty Lou! Needless to say she is nothing like the semi-stereotypical librarian of the movie...

In the film, Betty Lou is a mousy librarian and frustrated wife. Although innocent, she allows herself to be implicated in a crime of passion in order to challenge her husband's (all too accurate) preconceptions. With the aid of a prostitute with a heart of gold and an ambitious freshman lawyer, Betty Lou transforms herself into an assertive and confidant woman. Unfortunately there are some unforeseen consequences that could cost her her life!

Other reviewers have pointed out that this film is very uneven in tone. It isn't really a romantic comedy, more of a light thriller like "Get Shorty." The real problem is that the plot isn't clever enough for a thriller, the humor isn't sufficient for a comedy, and it certainly isn't dark enough for noir. However it has a naive symbolism I find appealing, and the actors appear to be having a good time with their roles. I'd call it stereotypical rather than sexist - I can easily imagine some women I've known going to such extremes for attention!

I wouldn't go out of my way to look this one up. But if it's on the tube and there's nothing else to see give it a try!

Well it's Definitely different

[triple8 · 6/10 · 3 May 2005]

SPOILERS THRGHOUOUT: Gun in Betty Lou's handbag is definitely one of the stranger movies I've seen. Contrary to many other views however, I don't think this was a bad movie, merely strange. It actually had an intriguing story but the way it went about the unraveling of it was a bit off.

This movie was at times nourish, at other times almost a parody. It was quite odd in that parts of this movie were actually spooky and dramatic yet other times almost blatantly comical. It kept switching back and forth in tone, not just once or twice but a constant switching between the two atmospheres one moment genuinely suspenseful, and the next over the top comedic which at first was actually kind of refreshing in that it certainly was different but after awhile it stopped being refreshing and just became a bit odd. It was definitely better in the beginning then toward the end.

I really think this movie would have been very very good had it just been mostly serious throughout and concentrated on the nourish elements instead of going a bit over the top with the comedic. The story just didn't wear comedy well, it wasn't suited for it. Yet there were certain things I liked. I liked the photography, the way this was filmed. I liked the rich array of interesting characters and even some of the comedy was good particularly Betty's scene in jail, when she first meets her cell mate. I also loved the musical score used, it went perfectly with the atmosphere of the movie (and was definitely not a comedic musical score at all.) Betty Loe's Handbag was one of the oddest movie's I've ever seen, so odd that it's even difficult to do a review. It's not as bad as many have said, I liked it at times, and it sure was different but it was definitely not for everybody and OK but not great though it maybe could have been. My vote is 6 of 10.

Enjoyable romantic comedy

[jeffws · 24 January 2004]

I beg to differ with the previous reviewer. On the contrary, this film does have a plot and is funny, with a rewarding ending. It is a light comedy, true. What I liked about it is that it is not just another cookie-cutter formula Hollywood movie. The plot is unique and believable, the writing is intelligent, the acting is adequate, the conclusion is appropriate to the plot. The two main characters, Betty Lou and Alex, grow and mature from their initial portrayal.

It is not a major film, but it is rewarding in its own way, an enjoyable way to spend 89 minutes. Lots of fun.

Silly drama/comedy with Penelope Ann Miller...

[dwpollar · 3/10 · 3 June 2010]

1st watched 6/1/2010 -- 3 out of 10(Dir-Allan Moyle): Silly drama/comedy with Penelope Ann Miller playing the title role of librarian Betty Lou from a small town in Missouri who finds a gun that just happened to be a murder weapon, and then lies -- saying she committed the murder to get attention. She's the quiet wife of a town cop who spends too much time at work and nobody else in the town takes her seriously, unfortunately. Once she lies though, she immediately gets the attention she wants and people listen to her and she enjoys this at first. A couple of thugs in jail then teach her the ways of being bad, which is supposed to be funny but isn't. She kind of becomes a female robin hood to the townsfolk, but eventually realizes she wants her husband back. She lost him because of all the lies, including an alleged affair. She then reveals the truth and the movie becomes a thriller with her having to save herself and her lawyer, played by Alfre Woodard(in a thankless role), from a local mobster. The main problem with this movie is that it didn't know what it wanted to be from the very beginning. If it would have picked something -- comedy, drama or thriller -- and tried to execute that -- it would have been much better. Instead we get a movie that didn't perform any of the elements very well and therefore the movie wasn't very enjoyable.

plot less- utterly sexist and lame

[kyrat · 1/10 · 9 June 1999]

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Hysterical, overly sensitive woman is so eager for attention that she admits to a murder she didn't commit....merely because her husband (who seems quite nice) asks if they can celebrate their anniversary another night since he's just had a great chance to advance at his job.

It makes women look Hysterical, Stupid, Overly needy & emotional, with over-active imaginations. (Not to mention the horrible stereotype of librarians!) This woman needs psychiatric help!

Anyway, he ends up disgraced and fired from his job. She is now in danger from some poorly explained mafia types. Somehow they end up catching the mafia types and the murderer.

And instead of suffering the consequences (the electric chair!!) or even just getting in trouble for perjury.... she ends up some sort of hero.

NO PLOT. NOTHING funny in the movie. Completely pointless. Huge waste of time!! At least True Lies which is racist & sexist has a plot.

Betty Lou misfires and shoots herself in the foot

[jotix100 · 5/10 · 4 May 2005]

A strange film, indeed. It doesn't lack its charms, but the film, as directed by Allan Moyle, goes nowhere because it seems to go in different directions. The film has a few laughs and the best way is to approach it without any preconceptions because it will reward the viewer.

What the director is to be congratulated is because of the good performances from this cast. Penelope Ann Miller, playing the title role is an actress that is not seen often in the movies. She deserves better as she projects a nice sunny quality about everything she does. Alfre Woodard is a gifted performance whose appearances are always welcome.

The curiosity here was Julianne Moore playing Elinor. Ms. Moore is shown at a disadvantage in the movie. Evidently she must have had a cosmetic transformation that worked for her in getting better roles than this silly role she is seen playing here.

Mr. Moyle has a knack for directing. This film has good moments and it's worth a look.

Fun at the beginning, a bit violent at the end

[inkblot11 · 7/10 · 12 January 2005]

Betty Lou (Penelope Ann Miller) is a librarian who suffers from the doormat syndrome - people walk all over her. At home, it is not much better, as policeman husband Alex works late. When he fails to come home for their anniversary dinner, Betty Lou snaps out of her complacency. Finding a gun connected to a homicide, she devices a scheme to make herself visible....she'll confess to the murder of a mafioso. It works. She is the most talked about person in town, with one problem. The mafia may be chasing her now.

Penelope Ann Miller is one of those actresses you like to look & listen to, no matter what the part. She does a fine job as the long suffering wife and librarian. Eric Thal displays charm as Alex and Julianne Moore as Betty Lou's sister, in a role that obviously came before her leap into stardom, is a welcome addition. The plot is fun at first but things get deadly serious and violent near the ending. Do you like silly romantic plots, even when a little nastiness is thrown in? This movie will satisfy your basic requirements.

What was supposed to be funny?

[Tito-8 · 2/10 · 19 January 1999]

I just don't understand what was supposed to be funny about this movie, which is a pretty major flaw in a comedy. As opposed to many bad comedies where "thud" can be heard every few seconds due to the pathetic jokes, this movie had no thuds. I couldn't identify what was meant to be funny but simply wasn't. It didn't have jokes...even bad ones. It didn't have anything.

Four Oscar Nominated Actresses in One Movie!!!

[eslgr8 · 7/10 · 3 December 2005]

I enjoyed The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag. Though it's a far from great romantic comedy, it does have its funny (and quirky) moments, and a charming performance by Golden Globe Nominee Penelope Ann Miller. It's also a chance to see handsome sexy Eric Thal in a leading role (a shame he didn't become a bigger name!). But what sets Betty Lou apart from other "pretty good" romantic comedies is the fact that it features not one, not two, not three, but four Oscar nominated actresses: Alfre Woodard, Julianne Moore, and Cathy Moriarty, and Catherine Keener, each of whom is delightful in her role. I'll bet the producers had no idea what a goldmine supporting cast they'd assembled. The 89 minute running time suggests a film with many scenes left on the cutting room floor. Too bad there won't be a Special Edition of this one, as I'd love to see those deleted scenes!

Save a precious hour and three quarters. Miss this film.

[Bracken · 3/10 · 5 October 2000]

I can't believe I watched this movie on television, with the capacity to turn it off at any moment, and yet didn't. This is a terrible 'comedy'. It takes a bizarre premise- downtrodden librarian confesses to a murder in order to get respect- meanders off into a half-baked plot about the Mafia, and fails to include any jokes whatsoever. It's also staffed by off-the-peg movie stereotypes: dowdy librarian who turns out to be beautiful, hooker with a heart of gold, sinister Mafia boss- they're all there for the thousandth time. It's a bad film. Not 'so bad it's good'. Just bad. Even the 'cute' dog is ugly.

Fun!

[brichtr1 · 10/10 · 30 June 2003]

I saw this movie on TV and I have to admit.. I loved it! I was planning to go to sleep but once this movie came on I watched it all the way through! Although not exactly an Oscar winner, it had a charm all it's own. I think the cast was what made it, I loved Betty Lou and especially Eric Thal as Alex! They had great chemistry and were really cute together! This is a fun cute movie definitely NOT to be taken seriously, but just to sit back and enjoy! It still has a little bit of 80's fun to it.. I think in the 80's a lot of movies were made that would NEVER be made now, but now they are so fun to watch! This had a little bit of that. I dunno, I just loved it!

A who's-who of 80s awesomeness wrapped up in a cute comedy

[rooprect · 7/10 · 3 December 2012]

If you're a fan of 80s movies & TV, you'll have a blast watching "The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag". Released in 1992, I consider this one of the last "80s movies" with an allstar cast (though sadly underrated today).

For starters we've got the amazing Faye Grant (remember "V" & "The Greatest American Hero"?) in a role like you've never seen: a frustrated southern belle housewife who's just 1 Gucci away from being trailer park trash. She steals the show in every scene.

Then there's William Forsythe (Al Capone in "The Untouchables" TV series, the bad guy in "Out for Justice", etc) who plays such a creepy villain you almost forget you're watching a comedy.

It gets better... how about Meatloaf, yes, MEATLOAF in a cameo as "Larry".

There's my personal fave, Cathy Moriarty ...or as I like to think of her, the closest thing to Lauren Bacall since Lauren Bacall... as the tough street walker who changes Betty Lou's life. Cathy has played almost every mobster wife in every mobster movie ever made. Absolutely perfect.

There's the incomparable Julianne Moore (who's been in everything, but my fave would have to be her recent appearances on 30 Rock) as Betty Lou's nutty slutty sister.

How about Alfre Woodard (Betty Applewhite on "Desperate Housewives") as the rookie lawyer who's "defending" Betty Lou against murder charges even though she got her attorney's license through the mail.

And that brings us to Betty Lou herself, played by Penelope Ann Miller whom I'll always remember as Winnie, Pee-wee Herman's girlfriend in "Big Top Pee-Wee". She does such a great job as the repressed, oppressed & distressed housewife who decides to go on an adventure for the first time in her mousey life.

The director, Allan Moyle, may not be as famous as Spielberg, but he's done some great comedies such as "Pump Up the Volume" and "New Waterford Girl" (two films I highly recommend).

There are more actors I didn't recognize until I saw the credits: Catherine Keener (the hot chick in "Being John Malkovich"), Stanley Tucci ("Miami Vice" TV series), and did I mention MEATLOAF? The result of this great lineup is a film which was obviously a lot of fun to make, and it's certainly a lot of fun to watch. Even if you're not familiar with all these people I've mentioned, their colorful characterizations will be very memorable.

The story itself is an interesting blend. It's a badass chick flick like "Thelma & Louise" crossed with a small town crime caper like "My Cousin Vinny" and a light thriller like "Get Shorty" wrapped up into one. The presentation, though at times intense, remains breezy throughout, and although there are several murders on screen, it doesn't get too disturbing. They don't make em like this anymore. Like I said earlier, don't miss the chance to see one of the last of the "80s" crime-comedy classics.

Stupid film

[dragonslayer_ · 2/10 · 28 June 2012]

I watched the first 40 minutes of this and then quit. It was supposed to be a comedy, but it's just a story about a stupid woman who wants attention. I didn't laugh once in the 40 minutes, and the movie didn't seem to be going anywhere, and frankly I didn't give a rip about the main character because she is so bloody stupid. **Spoiler Warning** When she finds the gun in the river, she shouldn't have touched it because it might have still had fingerprints or other forensic evidence. But that's right. She decides to confess to a murder she didn't commit, just to get some attention. Do yourself a favor and skip this waste of time. Fortunately, I borrowed this from the public library so I wasn't out any money for admission or rental fees. Oh, and yes, I want the 40 minutes of my life back! 2 out of 10 is generous.

Surprisingly good movie!

[awhirley · 29 June 2003]

I thought this movie was going to be light and funny--and it WAS in some parts. Alfree Woodard and Faye Grant give especially good performances. Faye Grant's character is a scream! And Julianne Moore is great as Betty Lou's sister. But when it got to the suspenseful parts, it went beyond light and funny. It was surprisingly good. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Not even good enough for straight to video

[kira02bit · 1/10 · 29 November 2020]

Oh my God! Almost thirty years after seeing this crapper in theaters and I still remember its awfulness. Timid librarian Penelope Ann Miller (the Betty Lou of the title) is literally a background player in her own life. Her police officer husband Eric Thal barely notices her and the world at large takes her for granted. After a gangland slaying, she stumbles across the murder weapon and tries to turn it in to the police, but swiftly gets ignored and railroaded out by her idiot husband and his colleagues. After firing off the gun in a restroom, she gets taken in to custody and claims to be the murderer, resulting in her luxuriating in the newfound attention being heaped on her.

This is definitely the type of film that should have gone straight to video or ended up on cable without stopping in the theater. This must have been a painfully slow movie weekend that this flotsam generated a cinematic opening. Even worse, I have no idea why half the recognizable people in this cast are squandering their talents here. Cathy Moriarty was slowly being relegated to bad comedy support, but Alfre Woodward, Catherine Keener, Julianne Moore? What the heck?!

No doubt Miller thought it would be something to carry her own comedy, but she should have chosen better. Betty Lou alternates between a forgettable mouse and a woefully wrong-headed moron. Miller has been much better elsewhere.

The comedy is nonexistent. It is 1992 and the film still thinks it is funny that when Woodard as Betty Lou's attorney introduces herself with "Ms." that all of the men in the room give each other a look like she is "one of those". The serious and rather violent final act of the film does really help matters either.

A good deal of the problem is that Betty Lou engages in this obstruction of justice or media circus in order to snatch the respect being denied her by her husband and the world in general. Alas, we have no understanding how Betty Lou and her husband ended up married at all. Betty Lou is tragically colorless and uninteresting, Thal's husband is a boorish overbearing buffoon. Worse, he and his colleagues do not seem to have a handful of brain cells to rub between them and could not solve the easiest crossword puzzle. The two leads have literally no chemistry, so it is hard to become engaged in this chicanery. Perhaps if the filmmakers had gotten Thal naked as the makers of The Puppet Masters wisely did, we might better understand Betty Lou's attraction to him.

The whole production is just a boring, lifeless and tonally absurd mess. I would say catch it at your own risk, but I don't think even late night cable resurrects this wayward zombie.

I wanted to like this film

[chinaskee · 5/10 · 8 August 2001]

At first I thought Penelope Ann Miller was going to be able to carry this film.You could see those wheels in her head churning when she figured out she'd be able to get her husband's attention if she confessed to a murder,and she had me laughing quite a few times.But about half-way through,it started to give me a headache and I had to turn it off.Something about that red dress she wore in the courtroom and the following scene at an airport with some really loud music had an adverse effect on me and I couldn't bear any more of it.

"Hey, scratch and sniff!"

[classicsoncall · 4/10 · 13 November 2020]

Notwithstanding all those viewers who found this movie to be fun, cute and adorable, I have to wonder if any of them were paying attention to the actual story. I mean seriously, who in their right mind would confess to a murder they didn't commit, whether they were seeking attention or not. I just can't fathom the premise of this story, even if it was meant to be a romantic comedy of sorts. And later on, when Betty Lou's (Penelope Ann Miller) attorney (Alfre Woodard) finds out that she didn't actually kill Amos Lansing (the poor sap didn't get a cast credit), she has a melt down out of all proportion to what she just found out. You would think Betty Lou NOT killing Amos would have been a good thing and a positive for her court trial. But I guess the picture never intended to go in that direction. I even have to question the actions of Cajun Mafia gangster Billy Beaudine, who when he finds out that Betty might be in possession of a blackmail tape that Lansing had, instead of going after her or sending one of his goons, he calls her on the phone! What?!?! Sorry if I'm bursting anyone's bubble here, but a movie ought to have at least some semblance of credibility to it and this one didn't have any. Let me close out with one more. When Betty Lou was released from custody, how the heck did Reba obtain a 'get out of jail card' too? See what I mean?

Penelope Ann Miller adorable in farce

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 16 October 2016]

In Tettley, Missouri, Amos Lansing (Stanley Tucci) is having an affair with Charleen Barnes (Faye Grant). He's an used car salesman working for her husband Bob Barnes. When he offers to take her to Mexico, she runs off. Someone comes into the motel room and kills him with a shot to the head. The gun is thrown into the river and found by perennial doormat librarian Mrs. Elizabeth Louise 'Betty Lou' Perkins (Penelope Ann Miller). Her husband police detective Alex Perkins (Eric Thal) missed their anniversary dinner and is going to miss her library fundraiser for the murder case. She puts the gun in her handbag and calls Alex but he keeps brushing her off. When Elinor (Julianne Moore) pulls her into the store, Betty Lou has enough of everybody ignoring her and fires the gun in the washroom. With everybody dismissing her, she proclaims her guilt and is arrested. She gains confidence in jail with hooker Reba Bush (Cathy Moriarty) and starts weaving a tall tale about the shooting. She hires rookie lawyer Ann Orkin (Alfre Woodard) who helped her in the grocery line. Things get even more complicated when the FBI shows up claiming Amos is a fake identity and he's actually a mobster witness against ruthless mob boss Billy Beaudeen (William Forsythe). Beaudeen is after Amos' incriminating tape assumed to be now in Betty Lou's possession. She becomes an overnight star.

Penelope Ann Miller is fun both as the timid librarian and as the more assertive woman. The movie was almost universally panned. It deserves better. Miller is appealing. It's nothing excessively funny but there are a couple of good laughs. It is an enjoyable farce.

GD used and bot listed

[motherbug2001 · 1/10 · 2 April 2020]

The Lords name in vain, not listed in Parents Guide

Cute...Fun...Exciting... Hilarious!

[bronzesrv · 10/10 · 10 November 2018]

I seen this movie several times in my twenties, this was a good movie, very funny at the same time very scary and dangerous. And the plot was actually quite good which is rare in comedies like this. The ending is a little more violence than expected. Again though it goes with the plot. Just something to relax and enjoy. Oscar material probably not but still a great movie.

This is a great little comedy

[douglaswilson · 15 October 2011]

I think of myself as fairly critical when it comes to comedy, because if I am not amused or laughing out loud in the appropriate places, I can't fairly call it funny. And I hate improbable and implausible plots. This movie is engaging throughout and is very funny at the key points. Admittedly, you want to bitch-slap the boyfriend for his stupidity, but let's face it, a lot of young guys are stupid when it comes to their girlfriends. And even that distraction works this for this film: It is, most of all, a great comedy role for its female star, Penelope Ann Miller, and this is the movie that made me a big fan of hers. Miller and William Forsythe are fine actors and have done as well for the viewing public in the 20 years since as they did in this film. And I am grateful to them for giving us a movie I like to watch every couple of years because it's that good.

Things just don't go down that way in my neighborhood

[sadie_m_lady · 10/10 · 13 January 2021]

This movie is fun and priceless Penelope is amazing such fun and scary all at the same time And just another of those movies that for some reason you cannot purchase or watch anywhere ....WHY?????

Misfire

[tedg · 28 December 2003]

Spoilers herein.

Comedy films like this are cheap. Sometimes they accidentally hit, so a few experiments are worthwhile for the backers. The most common formula is a comedy about the `battle' between the sexes, and the most common `spice' a little violence.

This is one of the failures, but you can see that it lacks only a few elements between where it is and a moneymaker… Like say a typical Julia Roberts movie. I think even something as minor as a faster more detached pace and better score could have put this over the edge. All it really needs is a little irony in the camera.

Redheads again. There is something in the playbook about redheads and ambiguity that some actresses have tapped: Kate, Cate, Julianne, Nichole. But not Penelope, alas. ` Ted's evaluation: 1 of 3 – You can probably find something better to do with this part of your life.

Poorly done movie lacks common sense

[tex-42 · 11 June 2000]

Someone must have had a lot of money to burn. That is the only reason I can think that this movie was made. The plot concerns waifish Betty Lou (Miller) who finds a murder weapon and confesses to the crime simply because she feels ignored and under appreciated by everyone. This apparently is a way for her to gain self-confidence and become a celebrity in her small town. This also lands her in a lot of trouble with some Mafia thugs who believe that she is hiding a tape she took from the deceased after she killed him that could get them in trouble. The outcome is quite predictable. This movie overlooks logic and the fact that Betty Lou needs some serious psychiatric help and tries to tell us that confessing to crimes we didn't commit is a way to gain acceptance. And the most serious flaw is that Miller cannot hold the movie together by herself, the supporting characters are given little to do except stand there and wait for their cues. Just a bad movie, avoid it if possible.