There's an unconvincing last-act twist, but this is the movie "Little Children" wanted to be.
80
VarietyRonnie Scheib
VarietyRonnie Scheib
Sharp dialogue, idiosyncratic characters and a wickedly brilliant structure that subtly derails expectation make Laura Smiles a rarity among mellers.
80
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
It casts an increasingly hypnotic spell, thanks in no small measure to Wright -- a fearless actress (and the real-life wife of writer-director Ruscio) who brings this sometimes despicable, often heartbreaking character to life with every atom of her being.
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
New York PostV.A. Musetto
Ruscio's script is grim and darkly funny, but the big attraction is Wright's right-on performance. She's an actress waiting to be discovered.
Part domestic drama, part thriller, the microbudget shot-on-video feature Laura Smiles is so ambitious that its ultimate failure is more depressing than anything in its dark script.
As Ruscio piles it on, he gets himself further and further away from any sense of genuine emotional truth.
38
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
It's an interesting profile in self-destruction until the script becomes unhinged itself and has Laura doing things that are not so much outrageous as hilariously stupid.
30
Village Voice
Village Voice
Stylish, low-budget indies thrive on redeeming the clichés of everyday life. But that takes smart writing and sharp humor, of which Laura Smiles has none.