Starring:
Julie Bowen as Angie
Holly Fields as Mary
Jenny Lewis as Laura
Paul Rudd as Jimmy Rusoff
Chris Young as Bob
Dick Miller as Farrell
Dee Wallace-Stone as Mrs. Gordon
Christopher Stone as Mr. Gordon
Robert Picardo as Mr. Cahn
Wendy Schaal as Mrs. Cahn
Joe Flaherty as Mr. Nicholson
Belinda Balaski as Mrs. Nicholson
Roger Corman as Mr. Randolph
Julie Corman as Mrs. Randolph
Special Features:
None
Other Info:
Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Dolby Digital Surround Sound
French and Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 82 Minutes
Synopsis:
This film was originally released in 1994 on television. It is a remake of a 1956 film. The following is from the DVD cover:
Three naughty teens find more trouble than they bargained for in this sassy comedy adventure starring Paul Rudd (ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES), Julie Bowen (TV’s ED, JOE SOMEBODY), and Dee Wallace-Stone (E.T.). Stuck in 1950’s suburbia, Angie (Bowen), Mary, and Laura are tired of the same old things … and yearn for something new. Everything changes when Mary’s deadbeat boyfriend skips town, prompting the girls to break all the rules by faking their own kidnapping, stealing a car, and chasing him down the highway! But soon, their dangerous travels show them that their sheltered lives might not have been so bad after all! With special appearances by horror master Roger Corman, teen idol Fabian, Cathy Moriarty (ANALYZE THAT), John Astin (THE ADDAMS FAMILY), and Courtney Gains (SWEET HOME ALABAMA).
Runaway Daughters is rated PG-13 for some teen sexuality and a shooting scene.
The Movie:
Despite being directed by Joe Dante, Runaway Daughters is only mediocre. As a TV movie, the production is rather low budget and the plot isnt terribly engrossing. The first half is a 50s teen drama filled with all sorts of clichés. The second half is a bit of a road trip picture with the girls running into one wacky misadventure after another. Dante probably should have chosen either a strictly comedic or dramatic tone for this one. As it is they are mixed and it doesnt work well.
The most notable thing about Runaway Daughters is the large number of cameos. You have brief appearances by Roger Corman, Fabian, John Astin, Dee Wallace-Stone, and others. Other Dante favorites like Robert Picardo and Dick Miller also have small roles. Seeing them makes the movie a little more interesting, but not much.
The lead actors are decent. Julie Bowen is beautiful and rebellious as Angie. Paul Rudd is amusing as Jimmy Rusoff, the rebel without a clue. (I think of all the characters, his could have been made funnier by satirizing the rebellious teen stereotype.) The other actors and actresses dont really stand out.
If youre a fan of Joe Dante or any of the actors, then you might find Runaway Daughters worth checking out. Otherwise youre probably better off picking out another 50s dramedy or another Joe Dante film.
The Extras:
There are no bonus features on this DVD.
The Bottom Line:
Despite being directed by Joe Dante and having a large number of notable cameos, Runaway Daughters is merely a mediocre TV movie.
