In its own time, Ladybug, Ladybug was a shattering experience, as people looked at the unthinkable -- the possibility of nuclear annihilation. Many viewers who saw the film upon its initial release state that it had a profound effect upon them. Unfortunately, with the passage of time and with a number of other films and TV offerings that have dealt with this situation, Ladybug now seems tame --and rather lame. Its biggest problem is simply its length. Had it been a half-hour episode of Twilight Zone (which it could easily have been), it would have worked very well. Stretched out to feature length, it becomes dull and irritating. This is especially true given director Frank Perry's decision to treat the material in a non-sensational manner, with subtlety and nuance. This is laudable, but the attempt doesn't come off; it backfires, making Ladybug lamentably slow and at times downright dreary. It even damages the ending, which should inspire horror but instead is merely a bit sad. Things are not helped by some truly dreadful dialogue. Under the circumstances, the cast -- which includes a number of very talented individuals - does as well as can be expected. Leonard Hirschfield's cinematography is outstanding, but that's the best that can be said about this nobly-intended message picture.
by Craig Butler
review
