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All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story

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All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story
Promotional poster
GenreCrime
Drama
Written byJulie Hébert
Directed byLloyd Kramer
StarringPenelope Ann Miller
Mercedes Ruehl
Omar Anguiano
Rena Owen
Music byHoward Aye
Domenic Troiano
Jon Stancer (uncredited)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersSonny Grosso
Larry Jacobson
ProducerJ. Miles Dale
Production locationToronto
CinematographyBrian R.R. Hebb
EditorDavid Hicks
Running time120 minutes
Production companyGrosso-Jacobson Productions
Original release
NetworkUSA Network
ReleaseJanuary 18, 2000 (2000-01-18)

All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story is a 2000 American biographical crime drama television film based on Mary Kay Letourneau's repeated illegal relationship with her sixth-grade student Vili Fualaau.[1][2] The film premiered on USA Network on January 18, 2000, and was followed with a special entitled Letourneau: Live, which featured interviews with Letourneau and others involved with the scenario.[3]

The lead role of Letourneau was played by actress Penelope Ann Miller and filming took place in Toronto during 1999.[2] Letourneau cooperated with the film's producers. As she could not receive profits from the film per the "Son of Sam law", her fees were placed in a trust fund for her children.[2] As a way of developing her role, Miller corresponded with Letourneau over the telephone.[4]

Cast

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Reception

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Critical reception for All-American Girl was mixed.[5] Charleston Daily Mail praised the film, writing, "More than just a tawdry detour into the Jerry Springer/Ricki Lake cesspool of shock value, this film presents a sympathetic look at a confused woman who still contends that Vili is her destined soulmate, the love of her life."[6] The Los Angeles Daily News was more mixed in their review, praising the filmmakers for putting "a little care and thought into their production" and that it did not "waste one's time or aggressively insult one's intelligence" while also stating that the film was "ultimately unsatisfying" and did not "provide much insight into the case".[7] Variety panned the film overall, writing that it "wastes a good opportunity to shed light on some really screwed up people. Despite Penelope Ann Miller's eerie resemblance to Seattle's infamous seductress, this factual telepic about the world's most 'giving' teacher offers little insight and is buried underneath overblown production values."[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Givens, Ron (January 16, 2000). "A TEACHER'S OBSESSIVE TEEN LOVE". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "LETOURNEAU STORY TO BE TOLD IN TV MOVIE". The Columbian. August 3, 1999. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "'LETOURNEAU STORY,' AWARDS SHOWS HIGHLIGHT WEEK.(LIVING)". The Cincinnati Post. January 17, 2000. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  4. ^ Bobbin, Jay (January 17, 2000). "USA DRAMA STARS PENELOPE ANN MILLER AS SCANDALOUS SCHOOLTEACHER". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  5. ^ Jicha, Tom. "Movie On Mary Kay Should Make Usa Blush". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  6. ^ McDonough, Kevin (January 18, 2000). "Shows tell all-American tales gone terribly awry: ; Letourneau compelling, Kinkel a fearful puzzle". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  7. ^ Kronke, David (January 18, 2000). "MURDEROUS STUDENT, AMOROUS TEACHER. (L.A. Life) (television program review)". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  8. ^ Speier, Michael (January 18, 2000). "Review: 'The Mary Kay Letourneau Story: All-American Girl'". Variety. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
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