The funny and talented Jane Lynch plays Blanche Monroe, an out of work soap actress. When her stepdaughter is discovered by a Hollywood agent Blanche's jealousy drives her to the brink of some very clever on screen moments. A cute, modern and funny and twist on the Snow White fairytale, 'Memoirs of an Evil Stepmother' is a dark campy comedy about our culture's obsession with youth and beauty. Chicago alumni Jane Lynch who wrote and starred in the very funny award-winning play "Oh Sister, My Sister!" is one great talent to watch out for and for a first time director Cherien Dabis shows quite a promising future. A fun short little film worth seeing if you can get in on a compilation video.
2 Reviews
Cute and clever, a little off-balance
tevanson18 October 2004
Cherien Dabis sold her first script, "Little Black Boot," to the nonprofit lesbian filmmaker's collective, POWER UP, in 2001. But at the time, POWER UP would not permit writers to also direct their work. Subsequently, Dabis wrote "Memoirs of an Evil Stepmother" -- which became her directorial debut.
This film is a clever updating of the Snow White fairy tale, only this time the evil stepmother is a has-been soap opera actress whose daughter is taking her place. It's clever, but the film never quite manages to find its footing. Really witty updating of the main elements of the fairy-tale story are lacking. The film would have benefited from a bit more character development of Snow (the suddenly pretty, breast-implanted stepdaughter) as well as a the importation of a few more updated fairy-tale elements. For example, at one point, Blanche wears a red cape. Why not incorporate some Little Red Riding-Hood elements into the script?
I was completely blown away by the film's stupendously inventive, creative and funny opening credits. The film's editor and art directors deserve real kudos for coming up with this wonderful tribute to tabloids and Hollywood -- which also serves to set up the story and advance the narrative.
Jane Lynch ("Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind") is superb. But the rest of the cast is given little to do, and doesn't rise much to the occasion.
This film is a clever updating of the Snow White fairy tale, only this time the evil stepmother is a has-been soap opera actress whose daughter is taking her place. It's clever, but the film never quite manages to find its footing. Really witty updating of the main elements of the fairy-tale story are lacking. The film would have benefited from a bit more character development of Snow (the suddenly pretty, breast-implanted stepdaughter) as well as a the importation of a few more updated fairy-tale elements. For example, at one point, Blanche wears a red cape. Why not incorporate some Little Red Riding-Hood elements into the script?
I was completely blown away by the film's stupendously inventive, creative and funny opening credits. The film's editor and art directors deserve real kudos for coming up with this wonderful tribute to tabloids and Hollywood -- which also serves to set up the story and advance the narrative.
Jane Lynch ("Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind") is superb. But the rest of the cast is given little to do, and doesn't rise much to the occasion.
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