The Gun in Betty Lous Handbag

Plot

Betty Lou Perkins is a meek librarian and nobody pays much attention to her, in particular her husband, Alex. A criminal kingpin is killed in cold blood and Betty Lou happens to find the murder gun. She is so mousy, however, she cannot even get the police to listen to her, including Alex, who is a detective. In sheer frustration, she not only produces the gun, but also announces she is the one who committed the crime.

Behind bars, Betty Lou meets a variety of hardened and colorful characters. Rather than intimidate her, they actually increase her self-confidence. Once she is released, she begins to dress, speak, and act differently. Unfortunately for her, criminal acquaintances of the victim assume she must have confessed to the murder for a reason. They conclude she must be his mistress, and soon the bad guys want a few words with her...or worse.

Cast

Reception

The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag was panned by critics. It currently holds a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 23 reviews.

Entertainment Weekly, reviewing the film when it was released in home video, gave the film a D+ and called it a "foolish farce." The British film magazine Empire gave it (three stars out of five), calling it "watchable" and noting "Miller is a winning heroine" but characterizing the film as "too busy to be really funny." The Austin Chronicle gave it (two stars out of five): "The cast shines in The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag; watching these performers, you know this movie would have made for an inspired farce given better writing and direction."

Home video

The film was released on DVD by Touchstone Home Entertainment on September 2, 2003 and was released on Blu-ray by Mill Creek Entertainment in May 2011.