Drowning Mona MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: -2

Mona Dearly (Bette Midler) antagonizes almost everyone she meets. So when her car crashes into the river, drowning Mona, no one seems to mourn the loss. However, Chief Wyatt Rush (Danny DeVito) learns it was no accident and his investigation turns up plenty of suspects. Primary among them is his soon to be son-in-law, Bobby Calzone (Casey Affleck). But Rush also learns Monas husband, Phil (William Fichtner), is having an affair. And theres no love lost between Mona and her son, Jeff (Marcus Thomas). One of the more humorous points is carried throughout the film as everyone in town drives a 'Yugo' car. This often humorous look at a dysfunctional town in the midst of a murder mystery will likely draw small audiences.

While humorous, the story is filled with poor role models. In flashbacks, Mona is shown to be a mean-spirited woman who belittles and verbally abuses almost everyone. A woman is having an affair not only with Phil, but also Jeff. Partnered in a landscape business, Bobby and Jeff steadily lose customers because of Jeff's laziness. Bobby and the chief's daughter live together and although they are planning a wedding, a condoned sexual relationship causes premarital pregnancy. The chief's deputies make jokes about Jeff losing his hand in an accident and several versions are shown. Other than a wood chipper spewing blood, the accident is implied, but all involve reaching for a beer. Two women kiss and the chief tells his daughter he experimented in college, implying homosexual activity. Along with numerous regular profanities and obscenities, the sexually suggestive content makes DROWNING MONA a losing proposition.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Destination Films, 1401 Ocean Ave., Ste 301 Santa Monica, CA 90401