User Reviews

I have this on LaserDisc, and watch it again now and then. I enjoy the depiction of the Hutterites and their moral life, and how they come to influence Arquette.

This is intended to be a strong, moral tale of the perils of evil, and how a good man can turn a bad woman around. Arquette starts out as a carnival worker obsessed with Marilyn Monroe, thinking that Monroe's cheerful public persona meant Monroe was happy. She considers how money would make her happy and doesn't think at all about what stealing is, when she helps stage a robbery.

Her accomplice, Tate, steals, drinks (while, *gasp*, driving!), and uses others, pretty consistently. Quite self-centered and moderately charming.

Watching the Hutterite community reluctantly admit Arquette first as Tate's wife, then as Gordon-Levitt's wife, we see a disciplined community, remaining steadfast and true to their teachings and beliefs. Arquette, on the other hand, we see first ridicule and play at adapting to the Hutterites, then later actually expressing their beliefs and values in her life.

The only Hutterite we see change is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Who goes from a fainting exasperation of Arquette to a reluctant concern for her, to admiration and respect. This change occurs when Arquette stops reflecting the shallow culture she started out in, and begins to hold an appreciation for moral beliefs and respect. And, in the end, a love of family and friends.

The storytelling is a bit rougher than a Disney-type family film, nor was it popular for showing Godly beliefs as being comforting and supportive. The comedy is a bit earthy, mostly about clashing customs. The Hutterites are all shown to be consistently moral, cheerful, generous, and respectful. We don't get much of their actual teachings (a reclusive Jewis sect, I believe). I especially enjoy one scene where Gordon-Levitt challenges how Arquette picks a guy (from a bar), 'Is his word golden? Is he gentle with animals and children?' The movie plot may be weaker than need be, but it is told in a *nice* way.

It's set in 1990s Des Moines, Iowa and fictitious Pioneer, Alberta and travel in between. It follows an ex-Hutterite and his girlfriend who steal the day's receipts from the Iowa State Fair and then try to hide at his former Hutterite Colony.

Peter Jacobson and Havana Iggins, who performs as Marilyn Monroe at the fair, are the two thieves who rob the fair manager, Greeson. The next day Peter learns in the paper he has already been identified as the thief and is being sought. Havana wants to go to California, but Peter insists they're safer at his former Hutterite colony in Southern Alberta.

Peter is greeted like a prodigal son returning, but his "fiancée" is regarded with horror at her skimpy clothes, smoking, and foul mouth. Havana wants to stay because Peter has hidden the money and she wants to find it. Thus they get married to abide by the colony's rules. Peter's little brother, Ezekiel, is a naïve 12-year-old who is overwhelmed by Havana. Peter soon dies in a car accident, and according to Hutterite "law," Havana must either leave the colony or marry Peter's brother, Ezekiel. Since she wants the money she agrees to marry Ezekiel.

The comedy revolves around their adjustment to each other, Havana's limited efforts to fit into colony life, etc. Havana gets Ezekiel to find the money, but when he learns it is stolen he tells the colony elders. Ezekiel insists they return the money to the fair, and the elders agree. So Havana and Ezekiel leave for Iowa. Their adventures along the way include a crooked FBI agent, Markowski, who wants to take the money from Havana and Ezekiel. It all ends in a climax back at the Iowa State Fair.

This is a pretty bad movie. It's only modestly funny and there is not a lot of chemistry between the actors.

As might be expected, the depiction of the Hutterites is highly inaccurate. Peter's claim that Hutterites have no phones is bogus. There is no attempt to explain unique characteristics of Hutterite life. Hutterites have no rule or custom that a widow must marry the brother of the deceased. The Hutterites, even if they had accepted Peter back in good standing, would not have allowed him to marry an outsider who was clearly unwilling to abide by the rules of the colony. The depicted leadership structure of the colony had minimal relationship to reality.

The film had a "technical advisor" in the person of Dr. Helen Martens, but her counsel appeared to have little impact on the film.