1934. Shrewd and two-fisted no-nonsense matriarch Wilma McClatchie (a still lovely and sprightly Angie Dickinson) and her two nubile daughters -- brash Billie Jean (the insanely gorgeous Danielle Brisebois) and the sweet, but rather dim-witted Polly (adorable Julie McCullough) -- get revenge on crooked politician Morgan Crawford (a sublimely slimy Bruce Glover) by not only robbing various banks he owns, but also by kidnapping his nice guy son Jordan (likable Jeff Yagher). Director/co-writer Jim Wynorski relates the compact story at constant quick pace, offers a sharp line in amusing campy'n'cheeky humor, stages the exciting, if less than realistic action scenes with real gusto (said action includes a fierce sisterly catfight and a wild anything-goes brawl in a bordello), manages a few moments of humanity amid all the merry silliness, presents a credible enough evocation of the Great Depression era, and, of course, gives us a generous sprinkling of tasty female nudity (a skinny dipping sequence with Julie and Danielle rates as the undeniable yummy highlight). The solid acting from an able cast helps matters a whole lot: Robert Culp lends excellent support as helpful and compassionate journalist Daryl Pearson, Ebbe Roe Smith is appropriately hateful as Morgan's sleazy assistant Lucas Stroud, Charles Cyphers does well as ornery police chief Stark, and Kelli Maroney has a cool last reel cameo as fast-driving fugitive Willie McClatchie. Robert C. New's polished cinematography boasts plenty of neat cinematic flourishes (I really dug the bullet hole-style scene transitions). Chuck Cirino's twangy and jaunty score hits the harmonic spot. A hugely entertaining outing.
Review of Big Bad Mama II
