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Ah, remember back in 1993 when there were three TV movies about Amy Fisher all airing within a week of each other? It was a wild time, with tabloid papers, cheesy dramas, and shows like “Hard Copy” all diving into the scandalous lives of strangers. And then there was the made-for-TV movie “All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story.”
Letourneau, a schoolteacher, pled guilty to child rape in 1997 and ended up marrying her former sixth-grade student Vili Fualaau. The TV movie about their story hit the USA Network in 2000, and let me tell you, it’s one of the seediest TV movies you’ll ever see.
“All-American Girl” is like the Mary Kay Letourneau story on steroids. It’s tawdry basic cable at its finest – over-the-top cinematography, a sultry soundtrack, and emotional drama galore. The film doesn’t hold back on the “forbidden romance” angle, teasing out every scandalous moment with glee.
What’s most shocking about “All-American Girl” is how it sympathizes with Letourneau, painting Fualaau as the predator. It’s a weirdly twisted take on a ’90s scandal, but if you can get past the cringe, it’s actually pretty hilarious. The storytelling is straight out of a melodramatic soap opera, so if you can appreciate the campiness, you might just find yourself enjoying the ride.
This scene is like a litmus test to see if you’ll dig the humor in “May December,” which is basically a savage and hilarious takedown of everything “All-American Girl” represented.
## May December flips tabloid sleaze on its head
“May December” changes enough details from the Letourneau story to avoid being a carbon copy. Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) take center stage, with a plot that strays from the scandal but stays true to its roots. The film delves into the life of an actress named Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) who aims to create a more truthful portrayal of the affair, in contrast to the glossy depictions we’ve seen in recent years.
## Todd Haynes digs for truth in a sea of pretense
While Gracie and Elizabeth engage in a darkly comic struggle, Joe emerges as the emotional core of “May December.” As Gracie and Elizabeth obsess over appearances, Joe confronts the harsh reality of their relationship. Haynes cleverly uses camp aesthetics to dissect genuine emotions, juxtaposing melodrama with mundane moments like baking a cake or rummaging through the fridge for hot dogs.
In the end, “May December” comes full circle to confront the legacy of “All-American Girl,” challenging our fascination with sensationalized stories and the real lives they impact.
So, you know that moment when you pour your heart and soul into something, only to end up with a result that leaves you scratching your head? Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened to Elizabeth with her movie May December.
The Unexpected Final Scene
Instead of the epic masterpiece she envisioned, the final scene of May December almost feels like a bizarre crossover episode with All-American Girl
A Hollywood Reality Check
It’s moments like these that make you question the authenticity of “based on a true story” in Hollywood. But hey, at least Joe, the only character with a hint of sanity, gets a moment of introspection while watching his kids graduate from afar. As the melodrama between Gracie and Elizabeth unfolds on the football field, Joe’s moment of clarity is a stark reminder that sometimes, the real truth gets lost in the glitz and glam of the industry.
How to watch: If you’re up for a wild ride, you can catch All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story on Freevee and Tubi.
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Film
Streaming
True Crime
