Review of Nurse Betty (2000) by Stuart K — 29 Mar 2014

Directed by Neil LaBute, (Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), Possession (2002) and The Wicker Man (2006)), this black comedy came from a screenplay by John C. Richards (Sahara (2005)), and it's a touching but violent tale of fame and misunderstandings.

If this had been made back in the 1950's, it would have been an Ealing comedy, but it has a lot going for it and a bit to admire. In Kansas, small town waitress Betty Sizemore (Renée Zellweger) is addicted to soap opera A Reason to Love, and she idolises leading man George McCord (Greg Kinnear).

When Betty's husband Del (Aaron Eckhart) is killed by hitmen Charlie (Morgan Freeman) and Wesley (Chris Rock). Betty suffers a nervous breakdown, and retreats into a fantasy world where she believes her husband is George McCord's character Dr.

David Ravell in the soap. So, she drives from Kansas to Los Angeles to be with him. However, Charlie and Wesley are in hot pursuit to bump her off too, but Betty is absolutely oblivious to what's real and what's fantasy.

It has some very good performances, and LaBute does well with a tricky subject matter, but it does have all his hallmarks of men and women in conflict all present and correct. Zellweger relishes the role of our unassuming damsel in distress well, and it was this which helped her get the part of Bridget Jones allegedly.