Home :: DVD :: Comedy :: Animation  

African American Comedy
Animation

Black Comedy
British
Classic Comedies
Comic Criminals
Cult Classics
Documentaries, Real & Fake
Farce
Frighteningly Funny
Gay & Lesbian
General
Kids & Family
Military & War
Musicals
Parody & Spoof
Romantic Comedies
Satire
School Days
Screwball Comedy
Series & Sequels
Slapstick
Sports
Stand-Up
Teen
Television
Urban
Jane White is Sick and Twisted

Jane White is Sick and Twisted

List Price: $9.99
Your Price: $9.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pitiful
Review: "Jane White is Sick and Twisted" is an extremely cheap piece of schlock paying homage to television. I hate television so I generally despised this movie. I tried not to despise it, and I watched enough network television as a kid to get most of the references in the film, but nonetheless I disliked this movie immensely. My opinion of television hovers somewhere near my opinion of communism: it sounds like a great idea in theory, but fails miserably in practice. There is something so plebian about sitcoms, made for television movies, and reality shows that should rankle anyone with an education extending beyond the fourth grade. I know that sounds snobby, and hypocritical as well considering that I do enjoy a few television shows ("The Rockford Files" and "Soap," for example), but that's how it is. The most frightening thing about television has little to do with the vacuous personalities who appear on it; it's how the medium changes your perceptions of reality. Don't believe me? Quit watching the box for several months and then tune in again. You'll be amazed how quickly your mental acuity dissipates. Unfortunately, too many people keep watching day in and day out just like the titular character in this movie.

Jane White (Kim Little) represents an extreme example of the television junkie. She has spent her entire life in front of the tube, to the point that she can no longer distinguish between reality and unreality. Her mother (Alley Mills) suffers from a chronic form of agoraphobia and thus is detached from her daughter's life. Jane's father, or so she believes, is a sleazy television talk show host named Gerry King (David Lauder), a man who makes Jerry Springer look like Ted Koppel. The only outside influence on Jane appears to be a local sleaze ball named Burger (Chris Hardwick) who shows up at the house from time to time. White does, however, keep in e-mail contact with a convicted serial killer named Kenny Kingman (Mickey Jones) even though her intense television schedule never afforded her the opportunity to learn how to write in any known language. One day, Jane conceives of a brilliant idea: why not do something outrageous in order to earn a spot on the Gerry King show? She can finally meet her father! White quickly takes cues from the program, dressing up as a harridan and roaming the streets at night just as King's guests do. The result of this expedition is odd to say the least. She meets up with a couple of transvestites (Andrew Lauer and Eric Lutes from "Caroline in the City"), a pimp (Debra Wilson), and a potential customer with a heart of gold (Colin Mochrie in the film's only redeeming performance).

With a little help, Jane sets out to see Gerry King. She quickly hooks up with a young dim bulb by the name of Smith (Wil Wheaton), and the two embark on their own series of adventures. They go, for example, out into the desert to make themselves available for abduction to any passing aliens (that darn King show again). Frankly, by this time I started dozing off from sheer boredom, so the rest of the movie became one big blur. I recall that Kenny Kingman escaped from prison in order to visit his pen pal. I also recall Alley Mills hooking up with next-door neighbor Burger. We also get a few scenes from King's wacked out television show, particularly a segment where a black man claiming to be Jesus (Phil LaMarr) argues with two trailer trash chicks named Tiffany and Nancy (Danica McKellar and Maureen McCormick respectively). Too, Richard Kline (Larry from "Three's Company") pops up from time to time as a television news anchor named Chris Jobin. It's not as though I missed anything of significance at any point in the film, though. "Jane White is Sick and Twisted" is, truthfully, television incarnate. Just like watching television in real life, you won't remember anything five minutes after you've seen it.

I do, most regrettably, remember Kim Little as Jane White. She mugs constantly at the camera, decked out in braces, wacky hairdos, and a fashion sense you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. And she has a tendency to embark on disjointed monologues the likes of which haven't been heard since Katherine Helmond played Jessica Tate on "Soap," except they aren't nearly as funny as the latter. Little's over the top performance nearly obscures the numerous minor television personalities appearing in the film. Aside from the ones previously mentioned, we also see Ted Shackelford, Michelle Phillips, and even Dustin Diamond (Screech from "Saved by the Bell") as a wig wearing motel desk clerk. So what does all of this collected talent do for the film? Nothing. Nada. Doughnut. "Jane White is Sick and Twisted" is one of the most asinine, banal, poorly conceived ideas for a film ever thought up by a human being. In fact, I'm not sure a human being made this film. I wonder about all of those television signals that have been soaring through space since the medium's inception. I suspect an alien race analyzed these signals and made this as a result. You certainly need an alien sense of humor to laugh at this clunker.

The DVD version of the film contains a boatload of extras. There's a commentary track I didn't bother listening to, three trailers I barely watched, filmographies I ignored, deleted scenes I yawned my way through, games I wouldn't be caught dead playing, and some behind the scenes and making of stuff that sheds little light on why anyone would make such an atrocious film. Even worse, the picture and audio quality are the equivalent of week old bread. Take a pass on this one, folks. Life's too short to waste it watching drivel like this.



Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Sick & Twisted Fun With Dick & Jane
Review: "Jane White is Sick and Twisted" isn't the easiest film to describe. I guess the best way I've so far been able to articulate is that it's like the theme song the the old MTV game show "Remote Control": Kenny was unlike the other kids/REMOTE CONTROL.TV mattered, nothing else did...REMOTE CONTROL/Girls said yes and he said NO!.Now he's got his own game show! Yeah, it's kind of like that, except Kenny is a teenage girl and she didn't get her own game show. Oh, and Wil Wheaton is in it. But the quizmaster of 72 Whooping Cough Lane manages to make a pretty interesting movie.

Jane White is played by the uber-cute Kim Little with hyper-energy and just the right sort of sparkle. She's able to convince the audience that she really does live in this TV dream world and it helps the film tremendously. Otherwise it would be little more than an obscure TV reference festival. She also makes you like Jane. The script by itself doesn't really make you want to like her, but Kim Little helps you like her.

Wil Wheaton plays her boyfriend Dick. Jane loves Dick because she thinks he's a serial killer. Dick loves Jane because they both have braces and she gives him money to save his car, Betsy. Wil obviously has a lot of fun playing the over-the-top character. This is some of the best work I've seen him do. Anyone, who with full knowledge of how silly he looks, wears the wig he wears in this film deserves my respect.

Jane and Dick's relationship is really what drives this picture. Both of them are quite insane, but for different reasons. Jane lives her life in TV reruns and Dick...well, Dick has a major problem with people going to the bathroom in the desert due to a tragic deer in the desert accident. You know, that old chestnut.
The rest of the cast is filled with cameos by various TV stars of yesteryear and improv superstars of today. You'll see Debra Wilson (MAD TV), Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch), Alley Mills and Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years), Eric Lutes and Andy Lauer (Caroline in the City), David Lander (Laverne and Shirley), Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood (Whose Line is it Anyway?) and Dustin "Screech" Diamond (Saved By the Bell). Each cameo is a little surprise when it happens and adds quite a bit to the TV references in the film.

The music to this film is tremendously important to its impact. I know I was singing the "Jane White Show" theme after the credits. The songs, although by different artists, sound stylistically similar and add to the stylized atmosphere of the film.

"Jane White is Sick and Twisted" is a hilarously fun retarded "Bonnie and Clyde" adventure ride through TV. It's a lot of fun and lends itself well to repeat viewing. I got quite a few references on the first go, I'm sure I'll find a lot more on the second. If you're a classic TV fan like me, then you'll want to get yourself a copy of the film.

The DVD contains several fun extras including inteviews with the cast and a commentary track with the director David Michael Latt, Kim Little and castmember Chris "MTV's Singled Out" Hardwick.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: From DVDTalk.com
Review: A cult classic in the making, Jane White is Sick and Twisted stars Kim Little (Diagnosis: Murder) as a television-obsessed shut-in who's convinced herself that she's the daughter of controversial talk show host Gerry King (David Lander; Laverne & Shirley). Jane dreams of one day reuniting with her estranged pop, penning love letters to serial killers and taking a part-time gig as a tranvestite prostitute in the hopes of earning an appearance on his show. Throughout her trek to Chicago, Jane encounters the intoxication of romance, the dizzying disappointment of heartbreak, she-males, sex power-imbuing aliens, serial killers, and a gaggle of familiar faces.

Supplements: Jane White is Sick and Twisted is a pretty loaded special edition releases, and its mountain of extras begins with an audio commentary. Director David Michael Latt, Kim Little, and Chris Hardwick keep a constant flow of discussion going, and it's equal parts informative and entertaining. Hardwick, as was also the case with the movie, provides most of the laughs, such as when he offers tips on how to get Bijou Phillips to sleep with you. As much as he interrupts David Latt early into the commentary, Hardwick takes on almost a moderator role later on, lobbing a number of questions and prompting discussion. Viewers with an interest in low-budget filmmaking ought to enjoy this commentary, which tackles how the cast became attached to the project, overcoming budget hurdles, and how pink poster board and a tarantula can add some flavor to a long scene with no coverage. It's mentioned several times what an intrusive pain in the [behind] managers and agents can be. For instance, Richard Klein's agent insisted that the actor would never stoop to the level of a project like Jane White, especially for such a piddling amount of money, only to find out that his scenes had already been shot a couple of weeks earlier. Whoops. There are a bunch of the usual funny production tales, such as a guest at a hotel mistaking Dustin Diamond in drag for an employee, which almost got the production booted from the location. One of the best commentaries I've listened to in months.

Conclusion: Like most "love it or hate it" comedies, Jane White is Sick and Twisted is probably best suited to a rental rather than blindly shelling out twenty bucks. Television nuts and viewers with an interest in off-kilter, independent comedies are likely to get a kick out of the movie, and there are enough extras on its DVD release to keep 'em occupied for the better part of an evening. Recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A cult classic in the making..
Review: A cult classic in the making...I found Jane White to just be hopelessly endearing, especially considering that I'm a reformed television nut myself. ...The DVD looks great, though representative of the film's low-budget origins. The source material doesn't show any signs of wear or abuse, and I don't recall spotting so much as a single fleck or nick for the duration. The image remains respectably crisp throughout, though limited somewhat by the clarity of the available 35mm film stock.... A few minor quibbles aside, this is a solid presentation, and definitely well above what I'd expect from an independently-produced comedy... Conclusion: Like most "love it or hate it" comedies, Jane White is Sick and Twisted is probably best suited to a rental rather than blindly shelling out twenty bucks. Television nuts and viewers with an interest in off-kilter, independent comedies are likely to get a kick out of the movie, and there are enough extras on its DVD release to keep 'em occupied for the better part of an evening. Recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Cult Classic!
Review: A cult classic that has moments of brilliance...And, seriously, you might as well catch it now, because some day you'll probably be dressing up as Jane and reciting the dialogue along with the rest of the audience during the midnight screening in some run-down repertory theatre.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: From Ugo.com
Review: Any hack can hire a decent cast for a movie backed by a billion dollars (just ask Michael Bay), but only a true artist can combine an eclectic cast of actors with a fun and inventive script. Jane White is Sick & Twisted is such a beast.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: From Boxoffice Magazine
Review: Considering how many people actively try to make what are commonly referred to as 'cult movies, it's a wonder that so few of them actually wind up earning the moniker. "Jane White is Sick & Twisted," however, joins the handful that get the formula absolutely right...It's a furious, kinetic potpourri that sometimes feels as though John Waters has been unleashed on a 'Kentucky Fried Movie' - style parody of 'Nic at Nite.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: TV SERIES?
Review: Everyone has their opinions on this film, so I'm approaching this with a different angle...I snuck over to the film's website and read that they are trying to make this into a TV series. All I can say is: YES! Please, please, please!

And if they do make this into a series make sure to hire the girl that plays JANE and not some wash-out TV actor that I've heard of. The JANE WHITE girl was hilarious, funny, and, awesome! Also, bring back Burger and Mom. Wait. EVERYONE. Yes, bring EVERYONE back because EVERYONE was awesome.

This was a funny film, but even funnier when I invited a lot of friends over. If it's not too late, go and rent this movie!!!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Terrible.
Review: I can't believe I watched this piece of garbage. The only time I come here to post a review is when I really feel the urge to let people know NOT TO WASTE THEIR TIME. This is about the worst movie you can possibly see. I'm not even going to get into why it's bad because EVERYHING about it is.

Disgusting.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: JANE WHITE IS JEJEUNE AND BANAL
Review: I can't believe the packaging on this DVD actually had a blurb comparing it to BEING THERE. Actually, I can't believe anyone would compare JANE WHITE to much of anything other than maybe some would-be teenage cineaste's awkward first attempt at filmmaking.

Painful to watch! I did not laugh once. My friend only rented it because she likes Colin Mochrie. I've only seen WHOSE LINE IS IT? once and scarcely remember it, so he wasn't a draw for me. And like every other actor in this disaster, he is ill served by the script, by the direction and by the awful cinematography (well, it looks like it was shot on video, so I'm not sure you can talk about genuine "cinematography").

I see that some reviewers find this a clever spoof on TV and the TV obsessed mind. And some just seem to like it because it's "cult." I dunno, you reach a point in life, I guess, when a bad film is just a bad film. And I guess at age 51, I've finally reached that point. If this is camp--well, send me HOME!

OK, bad reviews are almost never voted "helpful" on Amazon. That's understandable, I guess. People want to believe the best about a movie (or book or CD) that they're kinda sorta interested in. Or maybe they're already fans, and they're looking for validation. Well, here's some advice that should prove "helpful" for anyone who has yet to see this film. Rent it first. Or better yet borrow it from the library.

Plunk down as little money as possible before you decide whether you might be one of the rare, uh, discriminating few who might actually enjoy JANE WHITE IS SICK IS TWISTED enough to want to own it.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates