''American Strays'' is a 1996 American

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film directed by Michael Covert. It follows three interwoven stories of desert travelers as they converge on a small diner.

Synopsis

Red's Desert Diner Oasis, a dive in the middle of nowhere, becomes the focal point of three separate storylines. In the first, Dwayne ( Savage), a homicidal vacuum cleaner salesman, may have met his match in Patty Mae ( Tilly), a woman with an impressive collection of sweepers. The second story follows Johnny (

Perry Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally in England (particularly Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire), parts of South Wales, France (especially Normandy and Anjou), Canada, Austral ...

), a suicidal man who hires a sadistic hitman (

Jones Jones or Joneses may refer to: People and fictional characters *Jones (surname), a common Welsh and English surname * List of people with surname Jones, including fictional characters ** Justice Jones (disambiguation) ** Judge Jones (disambiguati ...

) to end his life anyway possible which includes beating the ever loving crap out of him. The third story follows an unemployed man ( Roberts) and his family, two mobsters ( Viterelli and

Russo Russo may refer to: * Russo (surname) * Russo (footballer, 1915–1980), full name Adolpho Milman, Brazilian football forward and manager * Russo (footballer, born 1976), full name Ricardo Soares Florêncio, Brazilian football defender * Russo brot ...

), and others as they travel across the emptiness of the American Southwest.

Cast

* Scott Plank as Sonny *

Melora Walters Melora Walters (born October 21, 1959) is an American actress and filmmaker, best known for her starring roles as Wanda Henrickson on HBO's ''Big Love'' (2006–2010) and Kathy Kone on Hulu's '' PEN15'' (2019–2021). She has frequently collabora ...

as Cindy * John Savage as Dwayne *

Brion James Brion Howard James (February 20, 1945 – August 7, 1999) was an American character actor. He portrayed Leon Kowalski in '' Blade Runner'' and appeared in '' Southern Comfort'', '' 48 Hrs.'', ''Another 48 Hrs.'', '' Silverado'', '' Tango & Cash'', ...

as Oris *

Joe Viterelli Joseph Viterelli (March 10, 1937 – January 28, 2004) was an American actor. He was best known for playing Italian-American mobsters. He gained widespread recognition for portraying Jelly in '' Analyze This'' (1999) and ''Analyze That'' (2002). ...

as Gene *

James Russo James Vincent Russo (born April 23, 1953) is an American film and television actor. He has appeared in over 150 films in three decades. Early life Russo was born in New York City to an Italian father and German mother. A graduate of the High Sch ...

as Eddie *

Luke Perry Coy Luther "Luke" Perry III (October 11, 1966 – March 4, 2019) was an American actor. He became a teen idol for playing Dylan McKay on the Fox television series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' from 1990 to 1995, and again from 1998 to 2000. ...

as Johnny *

Will Rothhaar William Edward Lamar Rothhaar (born January 12, 1987) is an American actor. Early life Rothhaar was born in New York City, the son of Michael Rothhaar and Nancy Linehan Charles, both of whom are playwrights, actors and directors. He briefly l ...

as Jordan * Jessica Lerelman as Daphne *

Toni Kalem Toni Z. Kalem (born August 29, 1956) is an American actress. Kalem is best known for her portrayal of Angie Bonpensiero on the HBO series ''The Sopranos''. Kalem grew up in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey. She appeared in such f ...

as Alice *

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. He has amassed more than 700 film and television credits since his debut in 1978, making him one of the most prolific English-speaking screen actors of all time. Roberts' career ...

as Martin * Vonte Sweet as Mondo * Anthony Lee as Omar * Stephanie Cushna as Johnny's Girlfriend * Sam J. Jones as The Exterminator * Stace Williamson as Johnny's Brother *

Carol Kane Carolyn Laurie Kane (born June 18, 1952) is an American actress. She gained recognition for her role in '' Hester Street'' (1975), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in ...

as Helen *

Luana Anders Luana Anders (born Luana Margo Anderson; May 12, 1938 – July 21, 1996) was an American actress and screenwriter. Career Anders appeared in a number of low-budget films, including starring roles in '' Life Begins at 17'' and '' Reform School ...

as Martha * Jack Kehler as Walker *

Robert Fields Robert Samuel Fields (born 10 July 1934) is an American actor who has appeared in film and television. A life member of The Actors Studio, Fields is known for his role as Daniel in the 1987 drama film ''Anna''. Early life and education Fields wa ...

as Harry * Charles Bailey-Gates as Bobby * Thomas Elliott as Timmy *

Jennifer Tilly Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan; September 16, 1958) is an American-Canadian actress and professional poker player. Known for her distinctive breathy voice and comedic timing, she is the recipient of a Saturn Award, and a GLAAD Award, ...

as Patty Mae *

Michael Horse Michael Horse (Michael James Heinrich, born 1949) is an American film and television actor. He is also a painter and jeweler. He is best known for playing Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill on ''Twin Peaks''. Background and education Michael James Hei ...

as Lead Cop *

Leland Crooke Leland Crooke is an American actor from stage and film. He is known from several stage plays and films by David Beaird. Career In February 1980, Crooke gave his stage debut in the play Bal ( Richard Nelson's loose adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's p ...

as Cop #2 * Michael Kaliski as Cop #3 *

Patrick Warburton Patrick Warburton (born November 14, 1964) is an American actor. His live action TV roles include David Puddy on ''Seinfeld'', the Tick (character), title character on ''The Tick (2001 TV series), The Tick'', Jeb Denton on ''Less than Perfect'' ...

as Rookie Cop

Reception

''American Strays'' was released to a single theater on September 13, 1996. The film grossed $1,183 in its opening weekend and $1,910 in total during its theatrical release.

Stephen Holden Stephen Holden (born July 18, 1941) is an American writer, poet, and music and film critic. Biography Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in 1963. He worked as a photo editor, staff writer, and eventually be ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' wrote in his review that the film "has the germ of a good idea" but concluded ''American Strays'' is "a spoof in search of a sense of humor".

References

External links

* * 1996 films 1996 comedy-drama films 1990s English-language films American comedy-drama films 1990s American films English-language comedy-drama films {{1990s-US-comedy-drama-film-stub