Vashirdfel
Simply A Masterpiece
Tedfoldol
everything you have heard about this movie is true.
Wizard-8
As you probably know, the whole "Dog Day Afternoon" plot has been done to death by other movies and television shows. But the twist in this redoing - having the hostage takers be youths - does have some promise. Sadly, the execution here is poorly handled. Burt Reynolds (who spends almost all of his scenes in a squad car, suggesting that his footage was quickly filmed) acts like he is performing in his sleep. But his performance is Academy Award material compared to the other acting in the movie. I don't blame the two youths who play the hostage takers for their poor performances - I blame the director for having them act in a way that more suggests crazy ADULTS instead of confused YOUTHS. It also doesn't help that their dialogue also comes across in this way as well. This movie really stretches credibility, not just for that but for also revealing that the 63 year-old Reynolds plays someone who is the father of a little girl.
Pepper Anne
Pups is the story of two thirteen year-old friends who display all the classic symptoms of a crazy childhood - fascinations with violence, absentee parents, a disconnection with reality, a filthy mouth, and so forth. One of these kids, Stevie, after not going through with suicide via hanging by a noose tied to a ceiling fan, finds his mother's gun and suggests to his girlfriend that they rob a bank. Idiotic for sure, but they actually go through with, in a standoff that lasts a lot longer than necessary, considering the circumstances.Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, Stevie carries out his own personal war against the world and triumph of apathy waving a gun in the face of adults, and taking advantage of the standoff with police to order food and contraception, get drunk, and star on MTV as we, the audience all the while are wondering what is to become of this boy. The moment he held up the bank he reached the point of no return. And his girlfriend plays along with this temporary fantasy, enjoying a brief stint as a makeshift Bonnie to Stevie's Clyde. Meanwhile, the negotiator (Burt Reynolds) is both baffled by Stevie's requests and hoping that the kids will end their standoff.But the commentary of detached youth become so unbelievable as the circumstances of the plot verge on pure hokum. The interview with Kurt Loder, for example. The fact that at least five of the six adult hostages don't even try to overpower Stevie or his girlfriend, despite there being numerous opportunities to do so. And all the while, the portrayal of Stevie, more so than his girlfriend, attempt to portray generalization of youth that become increasingly condescending. Although, I was bothered by the script in the beginning as the dialog among the kids sounded more like something a writer read in a slang handbook.The acting wasn't all that wonderful and Burt Reynolds seemed more disinterested than vigilante. All in all, I'm mixed about this one.
daniel-mkatz
Well I'm giving this a 7 because of the movie it could have been. Generally, most of these comments are pretty accurate, but it really was a very good idea - the movie shows the media obsession with violence, similarly to natural born killers, but with the added spin of the effect this has on children. This was not meant to be a serious movie and while people have been criticizing it as more of a child's fantasy than a real drama, I think that this was the point and I rather criticize the movie for not making it as obvious. The acting leaves a lot to be desired and the script could have used some editing but this could have been a very good movie. Shame really.
edge_records
All these bad comments like "It's unrealistic! Normally she would have been shot when she comes outside the bank" and "they are just waving the gun and are acting bad" are just written by people who have no idea at all. Probably they are also running around and tell everyone how great America is. Yeah!!! You're right! Let's shoot some 13 year old teenagers who have weapons! America is so free and so brave that teenagers, who feel attracted by the weapons they find each and everywhere should be shot! Maybe we just should start to shoot all teenagers! Especially those whose parents neglect them and let it happen that their kids watch the whole day movies that contains people who wave around with guns. Yeah, that's the solution! I think 13 years old kids should be completely responsible. And if they decide to be neglected by their parents they should pay for that. Who needs them anyway? No, serious - what do you think? How should a kid in such a situation behave? Of course it will imitate movies! If you say they act bad, then that's the fault of all the filmmakers who let the children's role models act bad! If this doesn't entertain you enough too bad for you! Or the critics against the girl getting her period. This is disturbing the plot? You're irritated by that? So you either have a problem understanding that such a situation could cause stress (you have seen a lot, have you?) or you have a problem with the matter of fact that women are female and have such odd things like periods (women are these carbon units with high voices and prominent breasts, in case you never realized).Maybe this movie is too much truth for some hillbillies who still believe in the big rock candy mountains or for some Texan cowboys who were taught that guns could express their feelings.I enjoyed the movie very much, it perfectly shows the sickness of the way America is going. The acting was really OK, and the reason why this movie wasn't a commercial success is not because the movie is bad, but because America has too many cowboys and hillbillies of mind. Not long ago I saw a teenager wearing a self deigned T-shirt, saying "YOU CAN'T HUG YOUR KIDS WITH NUCLEAR ARMS"
