Square Dance

Petrie's handling of this odd, faintly moralistic tale is at best sickly, at worst sick. Teenage Bible-basher Gemma (Ryder) abandons her crotchety grandfather (Robards) to join her loose-living mother (Alexander). Horrified to discover that Mom likes to get poked by the local cowpokes, Gemma strikes up a loving, innocent bond with hunky, mentally deficient Rory (Lowe), until an enthusiastic floozie introduces him to more stimulating games and Gemma catches them in the act. Rory, in vague remorse, viciously attacks his offending member (yeuch!), while Gemma hightails it back to Dullsville. Alexander and Ryder's intelligent performances are upstaged by Lowe, who comes across like rampant beefcake on valium. Ultimately, though, Petrie's twee vision of Midwest life kills the film - it's so cotton-pickin' clichéd. The Waltons with willies.