Review of Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman

Beautiful and wealthy, but meek and unhappy Nancy Archer (a fine and appealing performance by Daryl Hannah) becomes more assertive and self-assured after an encounter with a UFO causes her to grow fifty feet tall. However, her unfaithful conniving husband Harry (a nicely sleazy portrayal by Daniel Baldwin) tries to have Nancy committed to an asylum so he can collect her sizable fortune. Director Christopher Guest, working from a sharp and witty script by Joseph Dougherty, maintains a snappy pace and an engaging tongue-in-cheek tone while putting a knowing 90's feminist female empowerment spin on the material: Nancy gets more gutsy and confidant due to her increased size, thereby encouraging herself and other distaff characters to surmount the smarmy male oppression around them. Moreover, it's acted with zest by a spirited cast: William Windom as Nancy's domineering tycoon father Hamilton Camp, Frances Fisher as helpful therapist Dr. Theodora Cushing, Cristi Conway as Harry's sexy'n'sassy beautician paramour Louise "Honey" Parker, Paul Benedict as the pompous Dr. Victor Loeb, O'Neal Compton as the amiable Sheriff Denby, and Victoria Hass as spunky tomboy Deputy Charlotte "Charlie" Spooner. The rather rinky-dink (not so) special effects possess a certain tacky charm. The obvious cheesy outdoor sets likewise have an endearing artificial look to them. Both Nicholas Pike's spacey score and Russell Carpenter's bright cinematography are up to par. A cute diversion.