Couples best friends Darlene Dodd (Natasha Richardson), Lonnie Earl Dodd (Billy Bob Thornton), Roy Kirkendall (Patrick Swayze), and Candy Kirkendall (Charlize Theron) from Little Rock decide to go to Reno. Darlene and Roy don't know that Lonnie and Candy are having an affair. Lonnie dominates Darlene. Candy and Roy are trying to have a baby.It's a comedy without any actual jokes. It might actually work as an indie drama but it's obviously trying to be a comedy. It doesn't work and the movie is lesser for it. I can't blame the four actors if the material isn't there. The writers Brent Briscoe and Mark Fauser are better known as actors. The writing simply doesn't have it.

Because the first half is worth sleeping through as the fun is in the second half. Trust me, you won't miss anything of the story if you catch it from the second half but make sure to catch Penelope Cruz's sizzling but hilarious cameo first with Billy Bob and then with Patrick. The story is nothing new, nor interesting and has been done x times. The characters are irritating particularly those played by Thornton, Theron and Swayze. However, Natasha Richardson's Darlene is very likable. Performance wise, all the actors fit the bill especially Natasha Richardson (who remarkably pulls off the Southern accent)and Charlize Theron (in the later scenes). The lads, Billy Bob Thornton and Patrick Swayze are alright. The ending was somewhat awkward but a happy one nonetheless. The 'catfight' scene in the lift was hilarious and there's a wonderful moment of acting by Richardson when she's in the lounge after her tiff with her husband when she finds out that he cheated on her. One might feel hateful towards Theron's character when she advises Darlene and supports her like a friend when she had shagged her husband but in the latter half one feels sympathy for her as Theron displays Candy's remorse quite well. The soundtrack is quite fun and of the foot-tapping sort. Overall, this is an okay movie to watch after you've had a very tiring day and just want to relax and watch something that won't use up your energy too much.

WAKING UP IN RENO (3 outta 5 stars) Dubbed by the filmmakers as "a redneck 'Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice'", this is an enjoyable little movie... very funny at times but also treating its characters as real people with real emotions. Billy Bob Thornton is Lonnie Earl, a used car salesman married to Darlene (Natasha Richardson) but who has had a recent fling with her best friend Candy (Charlize Theron). Candy's husband Roy (Patrick Swayze) is desperately trying to get his wife pregnant but suspects his sperm may not be working. While on a vacation in Reno to renew their wedding vows, the foursome's relationship comes to a head when Roy's non-existent sperm count is confirmed the same day as his wife's pregnancy and everyone notices Lonnie Earl's shifty eyes upon hearing the news. While amusing and likable, the movie isn't quite as good as it could have been... and it often seems to be setting up future situations (like a suddenly-ignored attraction between Roy and Darlene) that never come to fruition. (I was expecting much hilarity from a scene of Lonnie Earl's attempt at eating a 72 ounce steak in one hour... but the scene winds up being mostly uneventful.) The actors do a great job though... particularly Thornton, whose skill at blurting out totally insensitive and inappropriate lines is unsurpassed, i.e. "She's on her deal, y'know?" And I will take any excuse to see the lovely Mrs. Liam Neeson (Natasha Richardson) on screen!

I think this movie is very entertaining and funny. I think Patrick Swayze is very good in this film. Of course I think he is awesome in any film. Lonnie Earl, Darlene and Candy do their share to make the film very entertaining. To me movies are entertaining and are usually not true to life. Of course, what happened to these two couples could happen in today's world. Anything can happen in today's world. I have watched this movie more than once, and each time I watch it, I just relax and enjoy it. I enjoy watching Lonnie Earl eating his steak and Roy eating his "viagara". There is no violence and of course it is not a family-type movies, I still think it is a movie to watch and relax for an evening and forget your troubles for awhile.