The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993)
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88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
51% of users liked it
(219 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
- Directed By
- Michael Ritchie
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Apr 10, 1993 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
There's a lot to laugh at here. But there's a lot more that's disquieting.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Holly Hunter
as Wanda Holloway
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Beau Bridges
as Terry Harper
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Swoosie Kurtz
as Marla Harper
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Jana Arnold
as Florie
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Nelly Bly
as Waitress
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George H.W. Bush
as Former US President (Himself)
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Johnny Carson
as Former Talkshow Host (Himself)
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Bill Cross
as Plant Manager
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Phil Donahue
as Talkshow Host (Himself)
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Steve Eastin
as Bob Wilbur
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Matt Frewer
as Troy McKinney
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Gary Grubbs
as Detective Helton
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Gregg Henry
as Tony Harper
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Eddie Jones
as C.D. Holloway
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Jessie Jones
as Mother
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Jack Kehler
as Sergeant F.E Blackwell
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Ryan MacDonald
as Old Man
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Patrick Montes
as Newscaster
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Clive Rosengren
as Judge George H. Godwin
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Elizabeth Ruscio
as Verna Heath
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Richard Schiff
as Life Photographer
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Ray Sharkey
as Police Officer
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Janis Uhley
as Donahue Audience
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Jane Anderson
as Writer (herself)
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David Brisbin
as Assistant D.A. Mike Anderson
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Michael Ritchie
as Minister
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Susan Krebs
as Ms. Richards
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Noni White
as Donahue Audience
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Frederick Kohner
as Shane Harper
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O'Neal Compton
as Principal James Barker
