Nurse Betty

Starring: Renee Zellweger, Greg Kinnear, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock
Director: Neil LaBute

Rating: R

Studio: USA Films

Review Posted: 7.21.01

DVD Rating: 8/10

By Dan Scully

Last year, Nurse Betty showed up on movie screens everywhere, but the only audience appeared to consist of only critics. These critics praised the film, but the general audience, though interested, merely skipped over it. Upon the video release, public audiences once again ignored it. This flick should not have been ignored! It is very, very funny, and it has a great cast to boot (Hey, shut up! "To boot" is a good phrase!).

The story starts as we meet Betty, a white trash waitress whose husband treats her poorly. Betty has always enjoyed the show "A Reason to Love," a daytime ER-style soap opera to which she is constantly riveted.

Then, in a darkly comic turn, she witnesses two hit men scalping and killing her husband while, at the same time, she was watching her favorite soap opera. This trauma causes severe mental damage, causing poor Betty to think she is a character on "A Reason to Love.

Immediately, Betty sets out to find her one true love, a nonexistent TV character! Meanwhile, the two hitmen are searching for Betty along with the cops who think that she is the killer. The plot gets way more intense, funny, and maniacal as the movie progresses.

Nurse Betty is the Pepsi One of dark comedies. It is very mature in it's humor, but is also very light and heartwarming at the same time. Definitely a movie to spend some time on. With a great cast including Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear, and a breakthrough performance by Renee Zellweger, this is a film that is not to be missed!

8 out of 10

Good picture, relaxing menus (you'll see what I mean) but nothing extraordinary.

7 out of 10

Good sound, but nothing stand-out amazing.

6 out of 10

There are two commentaries on this DVD.

Director and Cast
Informative and funny. Chris Rock is hilarious, as he always has some smart ass response to make. Morgan Freeman has plenty of insight on the production of the film. Sometimes he seems to know more than the director Neil LaBute.
8/10

Director and Crew

Very informative, especially since it includes the composer who offers plenty of insight on how important the music is in creating comedy. Sometimes, however, the commentary slows down, and nobody is saying anything at all.
6/10

'A Reason to Love' soap opera segments

A few scenes from Betty's favorite soap are available as individual segments, not as a montage, which makes it a lot easier to watch repeatedly. These clips are dead on parodies of those horrific acting travesties that today's housewives call "entertainment."
9/10

Deleted Scenes
Fun to see what was left behind. A few of the scenes feel as if they should have been left in the flick. These scenes are very, very good, and very well directed.
9/10

Trailer/6 TV spots
The ads that got the critics attention and that were ignored by the public are all available on the DVD. Most of the spots misrepresent the movie and make it look as if it is a Farrelly Brothers style comedy. The flick is definitely a lot different than that!
7/10

Plenty of Hidden Features
Easter eggs galore!!! Need I say more?

OVERALL Extras Rating: 8 out of 10

At least give this under recognized film a rental. You won't be disappointed!

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