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Good story, Not enough for a whole film

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Blistering performances.

Inquisitive teenage girl in the modern-day South--selling fish with her grandmother out of their house on the river--forges a friendship with the father she's never known, just out of jail after 13 years. As the paroled ex-con who killed a man during a robbery, Tommy Lee Jones adds some hot-tempered fuel to these otherwise juiceless proceedings. Jones, playing the kind of loner who thaws out quickly, overcomes the manufactured grit and sentiment in this script and manages to give an interesting performance. Debuting director Tom Rickman, who also wrote the cliché-ridden script, allows many of the supporting players to overact mercilessly, while newcomer Martha Plimpton is used as the picture's 'noble conscience' (never a good idea). Rickman has so little faith in the 'family audience' he's targeting with this film, he has Plimpton's tomboyish Jonsy declare she "ain't no lezzy"--this so viewers can relax in the knowledge they're only watching an assembly-line sub-Disney movie and not anything more ambitious. The riverfront milieu is attractive, but the hick stereotypes and shady city-folk are enough to try anyone's patience. *1/2 from ****

Since this movie listing seems to be missing a plot / synopsis of the movie i'm commenting one : An entertaining tale of a father (Tommy Lee Jones) and daughter (Martha Plimpton) who run a bait/fishing shop on a river. They build a fishing boat together and is christened "The River Rat". The father is meanwhile harassed by his parole officer for information due to the father being the only survivor of a childhood crime involving a large sum of lost money. The father served time but the money was never recovered. After some history and character building has taken place, the movie transforms into a coming of age story combined with a competitive treasure hunt.

Jonsy is a pre-teen girl who lives by the Mississippi river with her grandmother. When her father Billy is released early from prison she tries to become close to him. However when Doc emerges from Billy's past looking for the money he stole things become more urgent.This is essentially the story of a father and daughter trying to bond after never being together. The story may take a more sinister turn as Doc takes them on a river journey to find the stolen money, but it's still a family drama for the most part. The family drama is well observed with good characters - only the boy Wexel comes across as a slight Southern stereotype. However Doc's introduction doesn't take away from this side, rather it adds a darker level involving murder, revenge and eventual redemption. But over all this it works as a nice, non-sentimental relationship drama.The film is the one that gave Martha Plimpton to the world and, while that may not be a good thing, she is good here - a child actress that isn't annoying. Also a pre-fame Tommy Lee Jones gives a strong performance as Billy who is slowly won over by fatherly concern for his daughter. Also giving a good show is Brian Dennehy (long before he started specialising in TV movies about crooked cops), here his bad guy slowly develops a tragic feel about him - just as his poison ivy wounds develop more to entrap him.The film is a clever relationship drama with a grisly edge to it. It's worth watching for it's simplicity and for it's good performances. Don't expect a masterpiece but it's a refreshing little drama.

"The River Rat" is too good a movie to lie in a corner without comment. Good grief, this was Martha Plimpton's first major role. For that reason alone it has a place in motion picture history. What a terrific talent, and what great contributions she has made to the art in roles both small and large. In this movie she combines with such recognized stars as Tommy Lee Jones and Brian Dennehy, and takes a back seat to neither. Her father-daughter scenes with Mr. Jones are warm and real. The depth all three of the lead actors brought to their characters was truly remarkable. In sum, the beautiful background of the mighty Mississippi River, an interesting story, some great acting turns, and, of course, Martha Plimpton make "The River Rat" a must-see picture.