Skip to main content

Plot

The debut feature from writer/director Lisa Krueger stars Scarlett Johansson and Aleksa Palladino as the titular Manny and Lo, orphaned teenaged sisters who avoid foster homes by living on the run, stealing food, and sleeping in random model homes. Older sister Lo is the rude, bossy, incompetent leader, and younger sister Manny is her thoughtful, realistic, logical underling. It quickly becomes apparent that Lo is pregnant and they won't be able to continue their wandering lifestyle of "keep moving and you won't get nailed." After a significant stage of denial, Lo goes to a hospital for an abortion and is denied. Quickly running out of options, Lo comes up with plan that seems ridiculous to the observant narrator Manny. Since they don't know anything about birthing babies, they kidnap Elaine (Mary Kay Place), a middle-aged woman dressed as a nurse who works in a maternity store. Together, the three women squat in an abandoned house in the woods so the disgruntled Lo can have her baby. Eventually, the owner of the house comes home and the captive Elaine resorts to a strange solution to the problem.
MPAA Rating:
R for language.
Genre(s):
Drama,Comedy
Run Time:
90min.
Theatrical Release Date:
07/26/1996
DVD Release Date:
01/20/2004
Director(s):
Lisa Krueger
Starring:
Scarlett Johansson , Aleksa Palladino , Mary Kay Place , Glenn Fitzgerald , Angie Phillips
Themes:
Eccentric Families,Sibling Relationships,Runaways,Orphans,Kidnapping
Tone:
Bittersweet,Compassionate,Humorous,Quirky,Understated,Wry
Keywords:
advice,hostage,kidnapping,on-the-run,one-against-odds,pregnancy,robbery,runaway [from home],sister,survivor,teenagers,unwed-parenthood
Language:
English