2/5 BETTY LOU'S A BIG FAT LIAR!
  by Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States)


Shy Betty Lou (Penelope Ann Miller) who rightly thinks of herself as a dull, small town librarian, injects a little excitement into boring life by confessing to a murder her cop husband is investigating in Allan Moyle's comedy, romance, thriller.

It all starts when Betty Lou finds a discarded gun, a weapon used in a recent murder, in a park. She dutifully takes it to the police, but she's ignored until she fires it and confesses to the crime. Taken to jail, the mousy librarian is transformed into a bombshell by some of her fellow inmates.

Sandra Bullock might consider a remake of this oddball film because it's not the crime that really matters here, it's the change Betty Lou experiences as she takes control of her life. Of course, the loose ends of the story are tied up and Betty Lou even saves her marriage. And it's all triggered (pun intended) by a gun.

3/5 I'll buy the DVD just for the bar scenes.
  by K. McCarthy (Southern California)
The singer in the bar scenes (mentioned by a previous reviewer) is Steve Pryor, the "best guitarist you'll never hear". He is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and has an impressive list of accomplishments including his own CD's. Apparently there's no soundtrack CD from this movie available. Too bad. Also, there are several good shots of the keyboard player, David Busey.

4/5 Classic Early 90's Touchstone Picture
  by Joshua Smith (CT, USA)
"The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag" falls under the same category as other beloved late 80's/early-90's films put out by Touchstone Pictures such as "Adventures in Babysitting" or "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead." Certainly not enduring works of cinematic brilliance to be studied by film students forever, but charming little films that hold a ton of entertainment value nonetheless. Not to mention these films also serve as windows into what life was like in the late 80's and early 90's, a much more innocent and light-hearted time in American pop culture. Penelope Ann Miller is delightful in the title role. And the supporting cast is brilliant as well. Eric Thal plays her less-than-appreciative cop husband who will mend his ways by the end of the film. Ray McKinnon is the cop sidekick who reassures Betty Lou's husband that Betty Lou will definitely learn plenty from a night behind bars and that his own wife Joan could use the same. Julianne Moore plays Betty Lou's kooky sister. Cathy Moriarty is brilliant as the hooker Betty Lou meets in prison. And Alfre Woodard delivers a delightfully comic turn as Betty Lou's novice attorney. The violent scenes are a little heavy-handed, but I think it serves the plot well as it shows just how much trouble Betty Lou stirs up for herself and the people she cares about. Overall, just a great, feel-good, early 90's comedy that definitely rewards repeated viewings.

4/5 Delightfully Smooth and Fun
  by Zen Williston (Heavenly Valley, NV United States)
This flick suprised me as I was not expecting much. And I did not get much, but what I got was light, fun, well acted, and well-written with likeable, attractive and believable characters. It is good for an evening in with popcorn. Laughs in several places and some suspense.

3/5 Betty Lou's coming out tonight
  by rballjones (Des Moines, IA USA)
Although it has its good points, this film is generally of the quality of a made-for-TV film--not something I'd recommend buying or renting.

Betty Lou is a librarian who's not getting the attention she wants and arguably deserves from her police officer husband. He's more interested in his work than her.

There's a murder in their town involving a travelling man who's having an affair with a local married woman.

Betty Lou (with her dog) happens to discover the murder weapon. To gain attention she proclaims herself the murderess. Betty Lou, of red hair, is a sympathetic character and it's fun to see her snub all the interrogating male cops (including her husband) who take her for granted. She also befriends a local prostitute while in jail and otherwise asserts herself as she hasn't before.

It's not all fun, however, for there are some southern Mafia characters about led by a particularly evil man named Bodine (how original). There are a few scenes of gratuitous violence that were a big turn off.

The climax is somewhat improbable but something you might expect in a TV movie.

Also, there's a scene in a country bar where the singers (names unknown) recreate faithfully the great Gram Parsons/Emmylou Harris duet of "Love Hurts."