Poor White Trash (2000)

Fresh and Exciting

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The acting in this movie is really good.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

A 2000's comedy titled "Poor White Trash", with that synopsis, with Jaime Presley presented as the lead character on the poster, and rated so low by snobby so-called "professional critics"... one could think this is a hidden gem.It turns out it isn't. It's a pretty small budget production and it shows in the editing (some of the cutting to the next scene for e.g.) but this isn't nearly the problem. The problem is the film all the while being pretty full with events, still feels pretty slow in pace. We get the point pretty quickly, so it would've been very welcomed, and crucial even, that the film would at least supply good laughs consistently, which it doesn't, it's barely just about tenable for its short length and pretty average in humor. It's okay.It should have been funnier...It should be said Sean Young and William Devane really support the film with really good acting presence that maintains some scenes above water level on its own. Presley is good as always, but we see far too little of her...4.5/10.

There are several intriguing qualities to this great film. #1 - The story is outrageous with some seriously funny black comedy. #2 - There are four standout performances with colorful characterizations. This is a must see for William Devane's portrayal of Ron Lake, the shopping mall lawyer. M.Emit Walsh is terrific as the compassionate Judge Pike. Jacob Tierney nails the part of totally irresponsible Lenny Lake. Finally Jamie Pressly as Ron Lake's main squeeze is the ultimate sexy bitch. #3 - "Poor White Trash" is so good, and has such tremendous dialog, that multiple viewings are guaranteed. The movie is flat out hilarious, and a real sleeper that deserves instant cult status. - MERK

I was interested to see this movie, because I grew up in Southern Illinois and ran around in Benton as a teenager. Yes, I was a Carbondale Saluki and I believe I know some of the people Mr. Urba and Addis based their characters on. The scary part of the movie is (even if other didn't like the acting of the cast) that really is how most of the people in the local area act. Here's some trivia, local people were mad because the title of the movie was changed from something nice to something degrading, accurate, but degrading. I am also wondering about how Mr. Addis got so many good actors to be in a low budget, bad movie. I know the film has no A-list stars, but I wasn't aware that the actors in it were so disparate for work. Even a Malkovich was involved in the production. Luckily, the only good thing about this movie was seeing Jamie Pressly in the same frame as the old stomping grounds and the fact I don't live there anymore. Stay down and dirty, Slugdriveruh1

Just flipping through the channels when I happened upon this gem on Comedy Central.Review above is seemingly 100% accurate as far as the hilarity of the acting and cinematography. The only thing missing from his review is a history of having spent 4 years going to the university at Carbondale, (SALUKIIIIIIIIIs).Best line -- just right now -- "ya ain't gonna live in a trailer -- yer gonna live in a dorm !!"Curses, I have to go to work!!Anyway -- if you love purposefully bad films -- and if you love Southern Illinois trash !!! wooooh!! I can hardly contain myself -- this film seems to be the hot ticket!