Leaving Normal

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Leaving Normal ★½ 1992 (R)

Darly, a fed-up waitress, and Marianne, an abused housewife, meet at a bus stop in Normal, Wyoming and decide to blow town. They travel across the American West, through Canada, and up to Alaska, where Lahti's ex-boyfriend has left her a house. Because both women have made bad choices all their lives, they decide to leave their futures to chance, and end up finding their nirvana. Plot is similar to “Thelma & Louise,” but “Leaving Normal” doesn't come close to the innovativeness of the former. Sappy and sentimental to the point of annoyance at times. 110m/C VHS . Christine Lahti, Meg Tilly, Lenny Von Dohlen, Maury Chaykin, James Gammon, Patrika Darbo, Eve Gordon, James Eckhouse, Brett Cullen, Rutanya Alda; D: Edward Zwick; W: Edward Solomon; C: Ralf Bode.