Dek, a decent but somewhat dull man, enjoys a happy existence with beloved girlfriend Shirley. They live together with her 12-year-old, Marlene: her daughter by the delinquent Jimmy, who flew the coop years ago and hasn't been heard from since. Dek loves Shirley so much that he proposes to her on national television.
The movie is so busy being quirky that it's hard to relate to it.
– Jeff Strickler,
Minneapolis Star Tribune,
2 Oct 2003
rotten:
Largely unintelligible romantic comedy about a couple of annoying losers and their personality-free love interest.
– Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct 2003
rotten:
Some strong performances make it go by fairly painlessly, but inconsistencies involving plot and character keep it from ever being more than marginally involving.
– Randy Cordova,
Arizona Republic,
9 Oct 2003
fresh:
What Leone did for cowboys and crime, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands does for a more contemporary genre.
– Terry Lawson,
Detroit Free Press,
10 Oct 2003
fresh:
The family dynamics are intriguing, and the performances mildly diverting.