Nice Girls Don't Explode Reviews

So dumb that it's smart, this quirky low-budget comedy from first-time director Chuck Martinez spoofs the likes of CARRIE and FIRESTARTER while presenting the tale of a divorced mother who refuses to let her daughter grow up. Mom (Barbara Harris) has long doted on her daughter, April (Michelle Meyrink), a teenager with a big problem--every time she gets the least bit intimate with a boy, sparks literally fly and everything bursts into flames. When April meets Ellen (Wallace Shawn), a lonely arsonist, at a psychiatrist's office, he thinks they are meant for each other. The film's premise is offbeat, but by repeatedly trading on the same gags and concepts it eventually becomes wearisome. Nonetheless, there are some wonderful performances and clever, capable cinematic touches. Harris is excellent as the slightly deranged mother.