Katie Holmes ( Rita ) played the white trash down on her luck mom really well. Stefania (Ruthie) was slightly to old for the part of the daughter she was playing. Still a good chemistry. Why would the diner that later employs Rita, employ a transsexual to be the lead waitress and not expect it to bring trouble and later closure. Why would a principal of a school that Ruthie attends who looks as rundown as Rita live across the road from Rita new house. Why would the dentist (Luke WIlson) be going to a sleazy looking A. A. meeting where he meets Rita. How would he keep his practice if he is a alcoholic? Why would the level headed Ruthie give in to peer pressure so quickly at the school openly smoking and doing drugs pretty much on arrival? Again why would Ruthie have such a character change when they seem to get on the right track toward the end going from level headed girl to spoilt angst brat? Cigarette smoking was heavy in this movie. Depictions of smoking are fine for realism but this was pretty much a constant through the movie. Still all in all watchable mainly for Katie Holmes who was terrific. I kinda liked it even if some of it was not believable.
Review of All We Had
