I am embarrassed to admit I've even seen this "film". Sometimes the downfall of not having cable is that late at night, when you don't feel like doing much, you're forced to choose between the few channels that come in relatively well and you end up watching crap like this.
This movie was horrible. As I started watching and realized how utterly ridiculous it was, I only kept watching because I was wondering if it was supposed to be a drama or was actually a comedy in disguise. Lack of a laugh-track and any light-heartedness on the part of the actors confirmed that it was, indeed, meant to be taken seriously. This fact, for me, was what made the movie entertaining. THIS was supposed to be a serious "life lesson" drama? Hilarious!
The storyline revolves around Emma Redding, who works at a fast food restaurant with some fellow teens and a few older single moms. There is sexual harassment and verbal abuse by the managers, who mistreat both the employees and the customers. So what does Emma do - call an attorney; organize a class action law suit; reveal this horrible treatment to the media? Oh goodness no, she decides to start a union, something her father is TOTALLY against. Despite the fact that he works organizing unions himself, he could not be less supportive and basically forbids her to go through with it.
Why doesn't Emma just quit this horrible job, you might ask? Well, among other glaringly unrealistic liberties taken by this movie's creator in the interest of creating DRAMA, Emma states that because of either their young age or lack of education, there are NO employment alternatives for the workers of Patty's. Even though Emma's family is apparently well-to-do and she still lives at home, we are expected to believe Emma NEEDS this job. There must not be another fast food joint, restaurant or hotel within driving distance. The idea that Emma just NOT WORK is never breached - it is either put up with the abusive managers at Patty's or form a union. Nevermind the fact that trying to start a union puts this MUCH NEEDED job at risk because of the vehemently anti-union higher-ups at Patty's, who have so far been very successful at nixing union uprisings within the company.
The drama in this movie is far too intense for a storyline that should be worthy of little to no conflict between Emma and her father, friends and boyfriend. Once she voices her idea and starts to put her ingenious and oh-so-precocious plan into action, her grades drop, her father is horribly disappointed in her, her friends turn on her and her boyfriend dumps her. This new obsession of Emma's apparently just doesn't leave time for the serious one-on-one attention he needs. One of Emma's snotty rich friends actually turned against her because Emma left a party without saying goodbye to her. This alone was enough to enrage her friend and lead her to rat Emma out to the Patty's manager. Sharing a seething feeling of neglect and abandonment where Emma is concerned, the lonely boyfriend and the infuriated friend get together. Plot twist! Didn't see that one coming, did ya?
On top of all the drama this decision incites in her personal life, Emma's fellow employees (the ones she's supposedly selflessly trying to help) are timid and unsure if they want to join. Despite their horrible working conditions, they're just not sure if they want to "risk it".
At the end of the movie, there is some continuum text on the screen, letting us know that "Emma" went on to become a union organizer and was actually successful in some of her future attempts. Is this movie based on true events? If it were my life, I would be humiliated to see it portrayed in this way. Regardless of whether or not there is a "real" Emma out there, while watching it I was embarrassed for the actors and everyone involved in the making of this film.
Anyone who wrote an even moderately positive review of this movie or rated it any higher than 3 must be somehow involved in the production. [...or perhaps they fulfill one or both of the criteria listed in my review summary. ;)]
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