Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael

Last updated
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
Welcome home roxy carmichael poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jim Abrahams
Written byKaren Leigh Hopkins
Produced byPenney Finkelman Cox
Starring
Cinematography Paul Elliott
Edited by Bruce Green
Music by Melissa Etheridge
Thomas Newman
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • October 12, 1990 (1990-10-12)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13 million
Box office$3.989 million

Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael is a 1990 American comedy-drama film that was directed by Jim Abrahams. It stars Winona Ryder and Jeff Daniels.

Contents

Plot

Dinky Bossetti is a 15-year-old girl who was adopted as a baby. Dinky is an unkempt goth kid who is constantly picked on at school, her antisocial attitude and behaviors are clearly caused by her intelligence, her adoptive parents not accepting Dinky for who she is and her bullying and being outcast by her peers. Dinky finds solace in her "Ark", a small cabin-boat beached on a lake shore. In and around the boat, Dinky has collected a menagerie of abandoned animals who are her friends/family.

Dinky's adoptive mother Rochelle is disappointed that the daughter she chose has no interest in "feminine" things, such as makeup and nice clothing. Rochelle cannot relate to or understand Dinky. Her adoptive father, Les, passively allows his wife to scold Dinky and send her to various "counselors" who are little more than temporary jailers. Her teachers give her no support when classmates ostracize, taunt, and throw things at her. Dinky enjoys thumbing her nose at her peers and embarrasses Gerald, a cute popular boy, by reading a condescending love poem to him in class.

Dinky is befriended by the new school guidance counselor Elizabeth Zaks, who recognizes her intelligence and spirit. Ms. Zaks tries to encourage Dinky to improve her appearance and get along with others more effectively, without compromising her true self. Gerald begins to show his interest in Dinky and tries to get other students to stop harassing her, but Dinky doesn't notice, even though he occasionally spies on her. Dinky becomes convinced that she is the abandoned daughter of Roxy Carmichael, a former townie who left for Hollywood 15 years before. She got a song written about her that was a hit, and all the royalties from the song were given to her for life. Roxy has been invited to return to town to assist in the dedication of a new municipal building. Dinky becomes fixated on the many similarities she shares with Roxy and questions the town folks for memories of her. The news of her return stirs up old jealousies and insecurities: old schoolmates gossip wildly. Dinky harasses Denton Webb, Roxy's old boyfriend, for information and he lets it slip that Roxy secretly had his baby before she left town. He doesn't realize Dinky thinks she is the abandoned baby. Denton becomes so obsessed with Roxy's return that his wife Barbara moves out. Barbie cannot live in the shadows of a woman who never loved Denton, but Denton still loves.

As the date for Roxy's return draws nearer, Dinky becomes more and more desperate to prove that she is Roxy's daughter (to herself - she needs to believe she is more in the world and someone will get/love her), She visited the star's childhood home (which is maintained as a cheesy museum), and obsessively questions Denton about what happened the night Roxy left, believing that Roxy will take her away to a new life. On the day that Roxy is due to arrive, Dinky packs her suitcase and arrives at the welcoming ceremony in a beautiful dress. Rochelle has invited representatives from a boarding school so she can send Dinky away, but Les finally stands up to his spouse and reminds her Dinky is their daughter. A limousine draws up, but a man gets out with an RSVP saying that Roxy will not attend. We never know if she was going to go to the ceremony or not until this RSVP arrives...but clearly the town is obsessed with Roxy still. Before the limousine can drive away, Dinky runs after it. Realizing the reason for Dinky's obsession with Roxy, Denton catches up with her and tells her the whole story: although Roxy did have a baby girl, and did leave her with him, the baby died. Roxy is not Dinky's mother, nor is he her father.

Left with nothing, Dinky is rescued by Gerald, who has developed feelings for her. At first, Dinky is suspicious of his interest, but the end of the film shows them together in a relationship where she is really appreciated for who she is, as things return to "normal" in this small town that proves, big or little, people are just trying to learn, survive and be loved for who they are.

Cast

Production notes

The setting of the film, Clyde, Ohio, is a real town. However the film features locations in Sandusky, Ohio as well. Located on the shore of Lake Erie.

Reception

Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 55% approval rating based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. [2] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 44 out of 100 based on 19 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [3] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. [4]

One of the most outspoken detractors of the film was Variety , whose comments about it were that "fans of Winona Ryder will definitely want to catch her in an offbeat role as the town rebel in this teen-oriented small-town saga; unfortunately, the rest of the production doesn't quite match up." [5]

Roger Ebert gave the film 2 stars in his original review, and said that "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael" contains one small treasure: a perceptive and particular performance by Winona Ryder in the role of a high school outcast", and that "her work is surrounded by a screenplay so flat-footed that much of our time is spent waiting impatiently for foregone conclusions." [6]

Soundtrack

Thomas Newman composed the original score for the film, which was released on cassette and compact disc by Varèse Sarabande. Although Melissa Etheridge wrote and performed two original songs for the film - "Don't Look At Me" and "In Roxy's Eyes (I Will Never Be the Same)" - neither is included on the soundtrack album; while the former has never been released, the latter is included on her 1993 album Yes I Am as "I Will Never Be the Same".

  1. In the Closet (1:45)
  2. Little Black Bird (1:23)
  3. Hers Are Nicest (1:10)
  4. Refrigerator Shrine (2:36)
  5. Missing Bossetti Child (:56)
  6. Wake Up (1:26)
  7. Clyde (1:44)
  8. Her Limousine (1:57)
  9. Several Letters (1:12)
  10. Choke It (2:18)
  11. Arriving by Aeroplane (:56)
  12. Cleveland (1:12)
  13. Yours Are Nice (:41)
  14. Baby Soup (2:56)
  15. In a Beauty Parlor (:35)
  16. G. on a Bike (1:06)
  17. Her Majesty's Dress (1:22)
  18. This Was My Intention (2:29)
  19. In a Small Town (1:33)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winona Ryder</span> American actress (born 1971)

Winona Laura Horowitz, known professionally as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Having come to attention playing quirky characters in the late 1980s, she achieved success with her more dramatic performances in the 1990s. Ryder's many accolades include a Golden Globe, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award.

<i>Women in Love</i> (film) 1969 British film directed by Ken Russell

Women in Love is a 1969 British romantic drama film directed by Ken Russell and starring Alan Bates, Oliver Reed, Glenda Jackson, and Jennie Linden. The film was adapted by Larry Kramer from D.H. Lawrence's 1920 novel Women in Love. It was the first film to be released by Brandywine Productions.

<i>Sweet Home Alabama</i> (film) 2002 American romantic comedy-drama film

Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Andy Tennant. Written by C. Jay Cox, it stars Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey. The supporting cast includes Fred Ward, Mary Kay Place, Jean Smart, Candice Bergen, Ethan Embry, and Melanie Lynskey. It was released in the United States on September 27, 2002, by Buena Vista Pictures through their Touchstone Pictures banner. The film takes its title from the 1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd song of the same name. It received mixed critical reception, but was a success at the box office.

<i>Lucas</i> (1986 film) 1986 film by David Seltzer

Lucas is a 1986 American coming-of-age romantic-sports film written and directed by David Seltzer in his directorial debut, and starring Corey Haim, Kerri Green, Charlie Sheen, and Courtney Thorne-Smith. Thorne-Smith and Winona Ryder made their film debuts in Lucas.

<i>New York Minute</i> (film) 2004 film by Dennie Gordon

New York Minute is a 2004 American teen comedy film directed by Dennie Gordon and starring Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, and Eugene Levy, with Andy Richter, Jared Padalecki, Riley Smith, and Andrea Martin in supporting roles. In the film, Mary-Kate and Ashley portray twins with opposing personalities who have a series of adventures around New York City. The film reunited the Olsens with Bob Saget for the first time since they all starred together on the television series Full House (1987–1995).

<i>Mermaids</i> (1990 film) 1990 film by Richard Benjamin

Mermaids is a 1990 American family comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin, and starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder, Michael Schoeffling, and Christina Ricci in her film debut. Based on Patty Dann's 1986 novel of the same name, and set in the early 1960s, its plot follows a neurotic teenage girl who moves with her wayward mother and young sister to a small town in Massachusetts.

Dinky may refer to:

<i>How to Make an American Quilt</i> 1995 film by Jocelyn Moorhouse

How to Make an American Quilt is a 1995 American drama film based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Whitney Otto. Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, the film features Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan and Alfre Woodard. It is notable as being Jared Leto's film debut. Amblin Entertainment optioned Otto's novel in 1991, and were able to persuade Steven Spielberg to finance the screenplay's development. How to Make an American Quilt received mixed reviews from critics. It was a box-office success, grossing $41 million against a $10 million budget. The film was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Dinah Manoff is an American stage, film, and television actress and television director. She is best known for her roles as Carol Weston on Empty Nest, Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, and Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony Award.

Ava Fabian is an American model and actress. She was chosen as Playboy's Playmate of the Month in August 1986 and has appeared in numerous Playboy videos. Her centerfold was photographed by Arny Freytag and Richard Fegley. Fabian is also a former Playboy Bunny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zak Dingle</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Zachariah Bartholomew "Zak" Dingle is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Steve Halliwell. He first appeared on 20 October 1994. Halliwell initially joined the show as part of the Dingle family and was only initially supposed to appear for a few episodes, but has become a key part of the soap since his introduction. He has been nominated for several awards for his portrayal of Zak. Some of Zak's storylines have included his wife Nellie divorcing him in 1997, marrying Lisa Clegg in 1998, having a daughter, Belle in 1998, the death of his son, Butch in 2000, Lisa being raped in 2011, assaulting his son Cain and leaving him temporarily paralysed in 2011, suffering a mental breakdown in 2012, trying to control his rebellious daughter and dealing with the death of Lisa. Halliwell died on 15 December 2023, with Zak having made his final appearance on 27 June 2023. On 2 July 2024, it was announced that Zak would be killed off in the programme with a funeral as a tribute to Halliwell. His death was revealed on 15 October 2024.

Damion Dietz is an American writer and film director known for his underground/indie films.

<i>The Age of Innocence</i> (1993 film) 1993 film directed by Martin Scorsese

The Age of Innocence is a 1993 American historical romantic drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. The screenplay, an adaptation of the 1920 novel by Edith Wharton, is by Scorsese and Jay Cocks. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder, and Miriam Margolyes, and was released by Columbia Pictures. It tells the story of Newland Archer (Day-Lewis), a wealthy New York society attorney who finds himself caught between two women, the conformist May Welland (Ryder) and the unconventional Countess Ellen Olenska (Pfeiffer).

<i>Autumn in New York</i> (film) 2000 film by Joan Chen

Autumn in New York is a 2000 American romantic drama film directed by Joan Chen, written by Allison Burnett, and starring Richard Gere, Winona Ryder, Anthony LaPaglia, Elaine Stritch, Vera Farmiga, and Sherry Stringfield.

<i>The Tunnel of Love</i> 1958 film by Gene Kelly

The Tunnel of Love is a 1958 American romantic comedy film directed by Gene Kelly and starring Doris Day and Richard Widmark. The film follows a married suburban couple who want a child but are unable to conceive. After adopting a child, they find the baby looks suspiciously like the adoptive father (Widmark). It is based on the 1957 hit Broadway play by Peter De Vries and Joseph Fields, which in turn was based on De Vries' 1954 novel. The Tunnel of Love is the first film directed by Kelly in which he did not also appear. Day received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amber Stevens West</span> American actress (born 1985 or 1986)

Amber Dawn Stevens West is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Ashleigh Howard in the ABC Family series Greek (2007–2011), Maxine in the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show (2015–2017), and Claire Davis in the CBS comedy Happy Together (2018–2019). She has also appeared in films The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), 22 Jump Street (2014) and Jessabelle (2014). She played the lead role of Maya in the 2018 comedy film Love Jacked.

<i>When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story</i> 2010 television film by John Kent Harrison

When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story is a 2010 American film that premiered on CBS on April 25, 2010. The film was produced by Terry Gould, directed by John Kent Harrison and written by William G. Borchert, who based the script on his 2005 novel of the same name.

<i>Destination Wedding</i> 2018 American film

Destination Wedding is a 2018 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Victor Levin. It stars Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves as two people who meet while attending the same wedding in Paso Robles, California. It was released in the United States on August 31, 2018.

References

  1. Benson, Sheila (12 October 1990). "'Roxy' Goes From Wild to Warmth". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2022-09-28.
  2. "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  3. "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  4. "Home". CinemaScore. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  5. "Variety Reviews - Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael - Film Reviews - - Review by Variety Staff". Reed Business Information. 1 January 1990. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  6. "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. 12 October 1990. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.