REEL CRITICS:’Georgia Rule’: Dysfunction at its best

In “Georgia Rule,” three generations of women from a dysfunctional clan come together for a wild ride into the Twilight Zone of family relationships.

Jane Fonda is excellent as Grandma Georgia, the leader of the clan with a no-nonsense attitude toward every aspect of life. Felicity Huffman plays her alcoholic daughter (Lilly), who’s married to an arrogant, but successful, San Francisco attorney.

Lindsay Lohan (Rachel) is perfectly cast as the delinquent granddaughter straight out of the ‘Girls Gone Wild’ videos. She turns everyone’s life upside down with her sex crazed, substance-abuse lifestyle. Her pathological lies obscure the truth of the events that may have led to her current situation.

Her mother sends Rachel to Georgia’s small town in Idaho, hoping that grandma can turn the rowdy girl’s life around. This scenario sets the stage for all the drama and dark comedy that follows.

Lohan got a lot of negative publicity surrounding her heavy partying during the production of this film. But her performance is a revelation that sets her apart from the bimbos of Hollywood.

She gives a riveting portrayal of a classic California bad girl that may draw on her own wayward life experience. She is the centerpiece of the film and the catalyst for all that happens.

The screenplay has a few formula flaws. But it will resonate with every grandparent who must deal with a grandchild gone wrong.

Wonderful performances on menu for ‘Waitress’

It’s easy to see why “Waitress” took the Audience Award at this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival. Adrienne Shelley’s screenplay is like those mouth-watering pies in the film — a little flaky, tart but sweet, even sexy.

Jenna (Keri Russell) works in a small Southern diner conjuring up pie recipes inspired by her own unhappy life (“I Hate My Husband Pie”). She dreams of leaving her control freak husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto) and opening her own pie shop. Then she finds out she’s pregnant.

Afraid to tell Earl, she confides in her best pals and co-workers Becky and Dawn (Cheryl Hines and Shelley), who have some big secrets of their own. Their meetings in the ladies room are very reminiscent of the old TV show “Alice.”

As if her life wasn’t complicated enough, Jenna falls for cute but quirky Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion), who is also married. When she realizes he likes her too, the look of joy and amazement on her face is priceless.

All of the performances are wonderful; Russell will warm and break your heart. Andy Griffith is also a delight as the diner’s curmudgeonly owner who seems to know Jenna better than she does herself.

“Waitress” is not all sweetness and light; there are some very dark moments. But the brighter scenes of friendship, yearning passions and resilience feel genuine without being overly sentimental.

The story is made more bittersweet knowing this was Shelley’s last film before she was murdered in November. It makes the last few minutes even more poignant.