Freeway is one of those "guilty pleasure" movies. It's trashy, offensive, exceedingly vulgar and brutal, yet somehow wickedly delightful as well. It's also impossible to truly fall in love with Reese Witherspoon until you've seen Freeway.
In short Freeway is inspired by the story of Little Red Riding Hood. This time, however, the story is set among the trailer parks of southern California. Little Red Riding Hood isn't all sweetness either. In this version, Vanessa (played by Witherspoon) is a streetwise, foul-mouthed, and illiterate teenager. Despite some rough edges, however, Vanessa is caring and hard-working, determined to bring order to her chaotic little world.
After her prostitute mother and drug-addicted stepfather are arrested, Vanessa escapes the clutches of her benevolent social worker and flees to Sacramento, hoping to track down the grandmother who doesn't know she exists. Along the way she encounters Bob Wolverton, a concerned psychologist working at a home for troubled boys. Her stolen car stranded on the freeway, Vanessa welcomes Bob's offer of assistance and soon begins to confide in her new friend, welcoming his kindly advice. All things, however, are not as they appear...
Freeway is one of those movies you will either love or hate. It is rich in humor, but many viewers aren't able to move beyond the language, violence, and sexual issues. Much of the film's direction leaves a lot to be desired as well. It often feels quite amateur. That aside, Freeway remains a strikingly clever piece of social satire and commentary. It's the Little Red Riding Hood story for the Jerry Springer set - or, more accurately, for those who see the humor in the Jerry Springer set.
Although hardly the kind of roll that wins Oscars, Witherspoon's performance is very strong. In no other film has she portrayed such a complex and demanding character. Sutherland's Big Bad Wolf is wickedly clever as well. The fact that he is a psychologist at a home for troubled boys only intensifies the overall depravity and sickness of his character. While the other characters remain rather one dimensional, Vanessa and Bob seem believable while remaining true to the film's white-trash fairy tale aesthetic. The chemistry between Witherspoon, as the well-intentioned, yet far from innocent (or helpless), Little Red Riding Hood and Sutherland as the lecherous, perverse Big Bad Wolf is very believable. They work well together, each relishing the twisted nuances of his/her character.
Freeway is one of the most satisfying dark comedies in recent years. Despite the occasional failings of its plot/screenplay, minor as they are, and the overall ordinariness of the film's direction, Witherspoon and Sutherland's performances make this a film one can watch over and over again. It's sick, twisted, and funny. If the overriding baseness of this film doesn't turn you off, you're in for quite a treat!
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