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 and is constantly picked on at school. Dinky's antisocial attitude and behavior is caused by her intelligence, her adoptive parents not accepting her for who she is, and being bullied by her peers. Dinky's adoptive mother Rochelle is disappointed that her daughter has no interest in "feminine" things, such as makeup and nice clothing. 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 better with others without compromising her true self. Gerald begins to show interest in Dinky and tries to get other students to stop harassing her, but Dinky takes no notice as she becomes convinced that she is the abandoned daughter of Roxy Carmichael, a former town resident who left for Hollywood and has been invited to return for the dedication of a new municipal building. Dinky becomes fixated on the many similarities she shares with Roxy and questions the townsfolk for memories of her. Dinky is then led to Denton Webb, Roxy's old boyfriend. He reveals that he and Roxy secretly had a child before she left town. Dinky's questions about Roxy prompt Denton to become obsessed with revisiting his romance, causing him to become more short-tempered and dismissive of his family. Fed up, his wife leaves him and tells him that Roxy never loved him.

Meanwhile, Dinky becomes convinced that when Roxy arrives for the ceremony, she will take Dinky away to a new life. On the day of Roxy's arrival, Dinky packs her suitcase and dresses up for the building dedication. At the ceremony, Rochelle reveals that she invited representatives from a boarding school to send Dinky away, but Les finally stands up to his wife and reminds her Dinky is their daughter no matter what. The townspeople eagerly await Roxy's arrival and expect her to emerge from a limousine that pulled up to the ceremony. Instead, the townspeople are left with a note explaining that Roxy is unable to attend. Distressed, Dinky runs after the car and Denton finally realizes the reason for Dinky's interest in Roxy. He tells her that his child with Roxy was born premature and did not survive, so Dinky is not Roxy's child.

Devastated, Dinky is comforted by Gerald and realizes she was chasing a fantasy. She decides to make peace with herself and her life as it is. Meanwhile, Rochelle tears up the boarding school brochures while Denton burns his Roxy memorabilia, hinting at a possible reconciliation with his wife. Dinky returns home where Gerald greets her, saying, "Welcome home, Dinky Bossetti."

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>Melinda and Melinda</i> 2004 film by Woody Allen

Melinda and Melinda is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film is set in Manhattan and stars Radha Mitchell as the protagonist Melinda, in two storylines; one tragic and the other comic. It premiered at the 2004 San Sebastián International Film Festival and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on March 18, 2005, by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

<i>Mr. Deeds</i> 2002 film by Steven Brill

Mr. Deeds is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Steven Brill, written by Tim Herlihy, and produced by Sid Ganis and Jack Giarraputo. It stars Adam Sandler in the title role, alongside Winona Ryder, Peter Gallagher, Jared Harris, Allen Covert, Erick Avari, and John Turturro. The film is a remake of the 1936 Frank Capra film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, which itself was based on the 1935 short story "Opera Hat" by Clarence Budington Kelland. It tells the story of a pizzeria owner who learns that he is the heir of a late multi-billionaire as he also meets a television reporter wanting a story on him.

<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>Square Dance</i> (film) 1987 film by Daniel Petrie

Square Dance is a 1987 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Daniel Petrie from a screenplay by Alan Hines, based on his novel of the same name. The film stars Jason Robards, Jane Alexander, Winona Ryder, and Rob Lowe, and was released on February 20, 1987, by Island Pictures. It earned Lowe his only Golden Globe Award nomination for a film role.

<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.

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

<i>The Out-of-Towners</i> (1999 film) 1999 film by Sam Weisman

The Out-of-Towners is a 1999 American comedy film starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. It is a remake of the 1970 film of the same name written by Neil Simon and starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.

<i>Boys</i> (1996 film) 1996 American film

Boys is a 1996 American film starring Winona Ryder and Lukas Haas. It is based very loosely on a short story called "Twenty Minutes" by James Salter.

<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>The Ten</i> (film) 2007 American film

The Ten is a 2007 anthology comedy film directed by David Wain, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ken Marino. It was released through ThinkFilm. The film was released on August 3, 2007. The DVD was released on January 15, 2008. It is an international co-production between the United States and Mexico. It received mixed reviews.

<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>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.

<i>Rattlesnake</i> (2019 film) Crime, drama, mystery film

Rattlesnake is a 2019 American horror drama mystery film written and directed by Zak Hilditch and starring Carmen Ejogo, Theo Rossi and Emma Greenwell. It was released on Netflix on October 25, 2019.

<i>Gone in the Night</i> (2022 film) 2022 American film

Gone in the Night is a 2022 American thriller film, directed by Eli Horowitz, in his directorial debut from a screenplay by Horowitz and Matthew Derby. It stars Winona Ryder, Dermot Mulroney, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Teague and Brianne Tju.

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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.