The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag (1992)

9% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(1,383 ratings)

Penelope Ann Miller's delightful performance as the shy, part-time librarian Betty Lou Perkins is the saving grace of this comedy from Touchstone Pictures. Betty Lou is the neglected wife of small-town police detective Alex Perkins (Eric Thal). She soon feels even more neglected when Alex can't make… More Penelope Ann Miller's delightful performance as the shy, part-time librarian Betty Lou Perkins is the saving grace of this comedy from Touchstone Pictures. Betty Lou is the neglected wife of small-town police detective Alex Perkins (Eric Thal). She soon feels even more neglected when Alex can't make their anniversary dinner because he has to investigate a brutal motel room slaying. Taking her dog for a walk, Betty Lou finds a gun by the river's edge that just happens to be the missing murder weapon in Alex's murder investigation. In order to get some attention, she announces that she was the one who committed the murder. Hauled behind bars, Betty Lou gets some quick assertiveness training from her cell-mate, hard-boiled prostitute Reba Bush (Cathy Moriarty). She also becomes an instant media celebrity, with crowds clamoring around her and television news reporters elevating her to legendary status. But Alex doesn't believe she committed the murder (she tells him the dead man was her lover) and continues investigating the crime. Her husband is not the only one who's suspicious -- the FBI wants to use her to lure crime lord Beaudeen (William Forsythe), who they suspect actually committed the murder, out into the open. It turns out the FBI is right; Beaudeen killed the motel room victim because he planned to blackmail him with an incriminating cassette. Beaudeen is convinced that Betty Lou has the tape and musters his forces to get it from her one way or another. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Allan Moyle
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 21, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Sep 2, 2003

Critic Reviews

Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
A little bit overrated, but fairly fun comedy.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
So darn innocuous it almost disappears.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Leo L

Hilarious!

Cast

            Penelope Ann Miller as Betty Lou Perkins

            Eric Thal as Alex Perkins

            Alfre Woodard as Ann

            Julianne Moore as Elinor

            Cathy Moriarty as Reba

            Andy Romano as Herrick

            Ray McKinnon as Frank

            William Forsythe as Beaudeen

            Xander Berkeley as Marchat

            Michael O'Neill as Jergens

            Christopher John Fields as Brown

            Paul Bates as Officer Finney

            Reathel Bean as Bob Barnes

            Laura Boenheim as Autograph Girl

            Ralph Braseth as Reporter

            Lesha Campbell as Teenage Girl

            Bernard Canepari as Mayor

            M.J. Etua as Reporter

            Ann Fisher-Wirth as Young Matron

            Ruddy L. Garner as FBI Wiretapper

            Nash Germany as Teenage Boy

            Lida Burris Gibson as Lydia Williams

            Margaret Graham as Perm

            Faye Grant as Charleen

            Barry Hannah as Court Clerk

            Merrill Healy as Gary

            Billy Holcomb as Farmer

            Cordell Jackson as Bathroom Lady

            Karen Robert Jackson as Irate Man

            Christine Joyce as Reporter

            Catherine Keener as Suzanne

            Suzanne Kent as Townsperson

            Gale Mayron as Pearl

            Kay McDuffie as Perm

            Ellen McElduff as Joan

            Meat Loaf as Larry

            Marisa Miller as April

            Dianna Miranda as Chiropractor

            Bill Mullen as Officer George

            Billie Neal as Gail

            Jeff O'Haco as Bar Fighter

            Barton Segal as Barton

            Marian Seldes as Margaret Armstrong

            Adam Shankman as Timid Man

            Jane Smithwick as Freckled Girl

            Deborah Spector as Cashier

            Charles Treas as Old Man

            Red West as Judge

            Amanda Zenil as Radical Girl

            Mark Magill as Glen

            John McCauley as Farmer

            Don Keith Opper as Dell

            Frank Welker as Scarlet

            Billy Hopkins
            
            Suzanne Smith
            
See full cast