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Nurse Betty

The more movies I rent with Renee Zellweger in them, the more impressed I am with her acting abilities. Bridget Jones' Diary was the first movie to knock me over, and since then I am tickled to catch other fascinating characters Renee Zellweger wonderfully and amazingly portrays.

Nurse Betty is quirky, twisted, off beat, outrageous, funny, creepy, and I like all of that. I must say that I was completely thrown by the graphic murder scene in the beginning of the movie. I'm not saying it wasn't necessary, only that I didn't see it going in the direction in which it did. Well, as nasty as it was, it was quick, but it sure did leave a strong lasting memory in my mind. But again, that was the point, and this is a dark humored comedy-drama.

This original story had a good premise line...soap operas! Yes, I am a fan of them and have my favorites, as they rightfully do their job in whisking you away to a world where only soap opera people can live, love, and suffer in. Although, with all due respect, there have been reality based story lines hitting home, about divorce, death, marriage, sickness, etc., and that can seem "too real" in an unreal world as the soaps live in. At times that is a comfort, other times not, but mostly they give a person a place to get lost in, a place in which a small town Kansas woman likes to visit. Never imagining in her wildest daydreams that she will actually become her own daytime soap nightmare, and not even realize it until it is possibly too late to do anything about it.

Betty( Renee Zellweger) is a sweet and devoted housewife who works as a waitress with a great bunch of people. She has ambitions of becoming a nurse, but her husband Del (Aaron Echart) doesn't give her much room to let those ambitious dreams grow.

Betty's husband is a stinker of a man, and a cheap car salesman who also has his own escapist outlets, like other women and smuggling drugs. Well, those drugs that Del thinks he so skillfully masterminded in stashing safely (in the trunk of a Buick LeSabre) turned out to be the worst place he could have put them (and soon you'll know why).

Betty's co-workers surprised her on her birthday, giving her money to help pay for her nursing classes. What did Del get Betty for her birthday you ask? Nothing, he even scoffed a bite out of Betty's birthday cupcake she got from work, never even saying happy birthday to her! Betty's one fantasy outlet to succumb to is her daily dose of her favorite soap opera "A Reason To Live." She planned on watching the show that evening because her date to go out with her girlfriend didn't pan out, and Del was meeting with some hot shot clients that same night.

Del's meeting lead the two "clients" Charlie (Morgan Freeman) and Wesley (Chris Rock), back to his house to collect the drugs. Well, Del didn't know what happened to the drugs and Wesley isn't a patient man. When Betty hears a struggle in the next room she opens the door with just enough room to witness the vicious slaughtering of her husband. Betty lapses into her make-believe safe place in soap land. Her TV fascination with a certain soap doctor named David Ravell (Greg Kinnear), now becomes her "reality" as she begins a search for Dr. David Ravell, her ex fiancée who she wants to get back together with. Betty travels from Kansas to L.A. to find the love of her life.

Betty has no idea what has just happened to her husband, nor does she know that her picture is plastered in the newspaper and on buttons that the waitresses are wearing in hopes of locating Betty. Now that Charlie and Wesley think Betty ran off with the money and even worse, that Betty was an evil and cruel wife that did nothing to help her husband, they are out for blood, Betty's blood!

So what is going to happen then when a disillusioned woman claims to be the ex fiancée of a man, who is playing an actor on a soap opera, who she believes is actually a real person? One thing I can tell you, some crazy stuff is going to happen and many lives are going to be uprooted and affected by it. More so than in a week of episodes of your favorite soap.

As we the viewer get more inside information on those two bizarre hit men we'll find out that one has something in common with Betty, and the other is developing a spiritual crush on her. We'll also find some interesting tidbits about Charlie and Wesley's bond and Charlie's philosophies of being a professional hitman.

But just as in soap land where anything can happen, same is true for the story of Nurse Betty and the world she has created.

Renee Zellweger is tops in my book; she's a fabulous and accomplished actress who has so much star shining appeal, but with the openness of a lady who shows and feels genuine gratitude for everything she receives, in recognition of her work, from her peers, the press and her fans.

Morgan Freeman is so cool and fascinating to watch. I admire his craft in meticulously bringing uniqueness to his roles. A true classic with the talent to back it, from miles away. He is a strong and solid actor who captivates the silver screen with his intelligence and powerful acting.

Chris Rock did what he does best, showing off his extremely wise, outspoken, fast talking, hysterical self. Honestly, no pun intended when I say he rocked, because he really did! This one is a great role and Chris Rock was a powerhouse of talent!

Greg Kinnear, I like him so much, even more in the past couple of years, and I think he is one of the fastest growing talents around! Remember way back when Greg Kinnear hosted "Talk Soup" on E? He was the best at that too, and that is why I watched it, but I'm glad he's in movies now. Greg Kinnear is a charming and very delightful actor to watch, and only seems to get better and better at what he's trying to accomplish. In an almost unrecognizable role, Aaron Eckhart could not have been more sleazy and gross as the drug dealing, prejudiced, two-timing, inconsiderate husband if he had more time to practice. I am disappointed that he had to leave the movie so quickly.

This movie has a lot to offer many different types of movie goers, and if you're a fan of any one of these wonderful performers, then you're sure to have a worthwhile viewing experience.

So the next time you're at the video store, make an appointment with Nurse Betty.

Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean

Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 9.25
Reader's Votes: 4

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