The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(202 ratings)

A Texas housewife plots hire a hit man to kill the girl who beat out her daughter for a place on the cheerleading squad in this made-for-cable satire based on a true story. Holly Hunter stars as Wanda Holloway, a twice-married Baptist mother of two who becomes obsessed when her daughter, Shanna… More A Texas housewife plots hire a hit man to kill the girl who beat out her daughter for a place on the cheerleading squad in this made-for-cable satire based on a true story. Holly Hunter stars as Wanda Holloway, a twice-married Baptist mother of two who becomes obsessed when her daughter, Shanna (Frankie Ingrassia), gets disqualified from the election for the eighth-grade cheerleading squad because of overly manipulative campaign tactics (i.e. handing out free rulers imprinted with her name). Looking down her nose at neighbor Verna Heath (Elizabeth Ruscio), whose daughter, Amber (Megan Berwick), made the squad, Wanda becomes convinced that there's a conspiracy afoot and decides to do something about it. Getting in touch with her ex-husband's brother, Terry Harper (Beau Bridges) -- a lowlife with a liquor and drug habit and a wife (Swoosie Kurtz) who sees imaginary creatures on the floor -- Wanda all but orders him to find her an assassin on the cheap. Terry chickens out, contacts the police, and helps get the goods on his former sister-in-law before she can do any actual damage. A media circus soon engulfs the participants' small Texas town as Wanda heads to court and tries to prove she was the victim of a setup. Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War and the fall of communism, The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom was filmed for HBO by Bad News Bears and Smile director Michael Ritchie. In adapting the Wanda Holloway story for the small screen, the film followed Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story, a 1992 ABC TV movie starring Lesley Ann Warren. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Michael Ritchie
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 10, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Apr 2, 2002
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
There's a lot to laugh at here. But there's a lot more that's disquieting.

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Cast

            Holly Hunter as Wanda Holloway

            Beau Bridges as Terry Harper

            Swoosie Kurtz as Marla Harper

            Jana Arnold as Florie

            Nelly Bly as Waitress

            George H.W. Bush as Former US President (Himself)

            Johnny Carson as Former Talkshow Host (Himself)

            Bill Cross as Plant Manager

            Phil Donahue as Talkshow Host (Himself)

            Steve Eastin as Bob Wilbur

            Matt Frewer as Troy McKinney

            Gary Grubbs as Detective Helton

            Gregg Henry as Tony Harper

            Eddie Jones as C.D. Holloway

            Jessie Jones as Mother

            Jack Kehler as Sergeant F.E Blackwell

            Ryan MacDonald as Old Man

            Patrick Montes as Newscaster

            Clive Rosengren as Judge George H. Godwin

            Elizabeth Ruscio as Verna Heath

            Richard Schiff as Life Photographer

            Ray Sharkey as Police Officer

            Janis Uhley as Donahue Audience

            Jane Anderson as Writer (herself)

            David Brisbin as Assistant D.A. Mike Anderson

            Michael Ritchie as Minister

            Susan Krebs as Ms. Richards

            Noni White as Donahue Audience

            Frederick Kohner as Shane Harper

            O'Neal Compton as Principal James Barker
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