I think this movie is decent for Lifetime standards. I don't get however that they cast Gabby's "mom" as an actor that is 12 years apart from the actress that plays Gabby. It's very obvious she doesn't look like she would be her mom IRL. So idk casting could have been better!! I know sometimes this happens but it just seems kind of dumb and I am an actor and producer so I don't see how they cast it like this because it's not believeable. The acting was ok and I honestly haven't heard of this story until now but I like to watch these type of movies if they are done at least somewhat believable.
27 Reviews
New technology, age-old danger
evening128 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
As this better-than-expected movie portrays it, Brian hung back from the start, never asking Gabby out till she pretty much forced him to.
The popular paperback "He's Just Not that Into You" advises women to take such signals seriously; wild horses couldn't stop a man with genuine interest from pursuing his woman of choice.
So this ill-fated couple starts off on the wrong foot, and, from the beginning, we wonder what it is in homely, diffident Brian that captures the interest and devotion of pretty, spirited Gabby.
The movie portrays Brian as possessing that green-eyed character flaw, jealousy, paired with equally hamstringing low self-esteem.
"You're not understanding how these guys are looking at you," he tells Gabby, urging her against a better job because "guys will come in and hit on you."
Effusive, idealistic Gabby pooh-poohs his concerns, believing everything will improve once they're married. Still, she's not entirely oblivious to the problems (i.e., "You say the wrong word, and he loses it").
Eager for respite from COVID restraints, or maybe just wanting Gabby all to himself, Brian proposes a trip across the country, which Gabby romanticizes into "van life," complete with a blog, which she hopes will make her a monetizing influencer. Only she doesn't tell Brian about her project till they're well into their journey. Predictably, he's contemptuous of her efforts, and their squabbles turn violent.
"What is wrong with you? You always have to have something to fight about!" Gabby says, as we observe that her goodwill is finally fading. Yet she ignores the advice of her best friend, who tells her to simply come home.
That this everyday couple from Long Island become victims of a Shakespearean tragedy is just plain sad.
Clearly, Gabby's friend and family had hinted at their concerns, but politely respected her autonomy.
Women, pay attention to the warning signs, and act! Let's not give Lifetime more plotlines for movies like this!
The popular paperback "He's Just Not that Into You" advises women to take such signals seriously; wild horses couldn't stop a man with genuine interest from pursuing his woman of choice.
So this ill-fated couple starts off on the wrong foot, and, from the beginning, we wonder what it is in homely, diffident Brian that captures the interest and devotion of pretty, spirited Gabby.
The movie portrays Brian as possessing that green-eyed character flaw, jealousy, paired with equally hamstringing low self-esteem.
"You're not understanding how these guys are looking at you," he tells Gabby, urging her against a better job because "guys will come in and hit on you."
Effusive, idealistic Gabby pooh-poohs his concerns, believing everything will improve once they're married. Still, she's not entirely oblivious to the problems (i.e., "You say the wrong word, and he loses it").
Eager for respite from COVID restraints, or maybe just wanting Gabby all to himself, Brian proposes a trip across the country, which Gabby romanticizes into "van life," complete with a blog, which she hopes will make her a monetizing influencer. Only she doesn't tell Brian about her project till they're well into their journey. Predictably, he's contemptuous of her efforts, and their squabbles turn violent.
"What is wrong with you? You always have to have something to fight about!" Gabby says, as we observe that her goodwill is finally fading. Yet she ignores the advice of her best friend, who tells her to simply come home.
That this everyday couple from Long Island become victims of a Shakespearean tragedy is just plain sad.
Clearly, Gabby's friend and family had hinted at their concerns, but politely respected her autonomy.
Women, pay attention to the warning signs, and act! Let's not give Lifetime more plotlines for movies like this!
Not realistic
alexissindler16 January 2023
I found this movie very 1 sided. I'm not saying Brian wasn't very jealous, controlling and in need of therapy. But this movie shows basically none of Gabbies issues, anxiety, ocd, despression. Things we know she had because there's footage of her saying it. She had a dependence of him. She said she didn't feel comfortable away from him. So portraying her as a confident free spirit that he was constantly trying to corral isn't realistic. Her videos very much showed a timid, meek but adventurous girl. Brian obviously manipulated Gabbie, put her excitement of becoming an Influencer down because he wanted her to always need him but I don't believe he was a psychopath like Jeffrey Dahmer. I hate when movies that are about a real life event are so one sided in telling the story. All they had to do was portray her as she really was and with all the footage of her that should of been easy. No one knows what caused Brian to strangle Gabbie to death. But it's not so hard to hypothesize that they were arguing something they were known to do and he got so angry he stangled her. The real lesson in all of this the lesson I'd want to the world to learn if I was Gabbie. Is not to ignore all the red flags. Listen to your gut. You might love a person but together you're toxic for each other. Sometimes when you've become dependent on someone for comfort or for whatever reason it's hard to break yourself away. I'd like to think Gabbies story with no help from this movie has helped many get out of a situation that may have ended the same way hers did. I know her parents hated the idea of this movie and asked it not be made to begin with. Which is very understandable. Hopefully they can take comfort in knowing her actual story saved many.
Didn't take long for Hollywood to cash in on this girls story.
yellowgrenade3 October 2022
This movie only serves to prove the fact that Hollywood is without morals.
This poor girl only died LAST YEAR in 2021, and there is already a movie about it, ONE year it took for some low life proeuction company to turn it her ruthless murder into entertainment. And that is all they've tried to do here.
This isn't some facutal documentary covering the details of a crime, this is a dramatised movie, for entetainment purposes. I dont see how anybody could watch this and not feel disgusted by its exsistance this soon aftere the event.
Everybody invovled in this movie should be ashamed of themselves. From the writer and directer, to the C and D list celebrities they bought cheap to play the roles. Shame on everybody. I bet nobody invovled would like to see a cheap movie being made about the murder of their own kid only a year after they had been burtally murdered. Disgusting. That's all it is.
This poor girl only died LAST YEAR in 2021, and there is already a movie about it, ONE year it took for some low life proeuction company to turn it her ruthless murder into entertainment. And that is all they've tried to do here.
This isn't some facutal documentary covering the details of a crime, this is a dramatised movie, for entetainment purposes. I dont see how anybody could watch this and not feel disgusted by its exsistance this soon aftere the event.
Everybody invovled in this movie should be ashamed of themselves. From the writer and directer, to the C and D list celebrities they bought cheap to play the roles. Shame on everybody. I bet nobody invovled would like to see a cheap movie being made about the murder of their own kid only a year after they had been burtally murdered. Disgusting. That's all it is.
Better Than I Heard - Watch it for Yourself
kbowlin-414685 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's definitely worth watching. A stark warning for young women caught up with controlling men. You can't love it away. She was a lovely young woman way over her head with this guy. The movie indicated she figured this out too late. I don't know what the controversy is over it ( besides her family doesn't approve). I haven't heard of inaccuracies although most most movies of this type have them.
She was like so many young women; just wanting someone to love them. I was trying to figure out if her " friend" was real or a composite, but "she" had Brian pegged. Very sad Gabby didn't see the danger sooner.
Watch it for yourself and decide. Well made.
She was like so many young women; just wanting someone to love them. I was trying to figure out if her " friend" was real or a composite, but "she" had Brian pegged. Very sad Gabby didn't see the danger sooner.
Watch it for yourself and decide. Well made.
Hastily put together and the quality shows
julieshotmail19 October 2022
Why this movie needs to be made in break-neck speed without the approval of the victim's family is beyond me. At some point, some form of dramatization is understandable as Gabby's story somehow has captured the world and there are very important lessons to be learned. But spitting out this movie in a mere 8 months after Brian's notebook discovery is in extremely poor taste. Have some respect and give the family time to heal and ensure that they are involved in any future movie decisions. And it goes without saying that allowing sufficient time to lapse before releasing such a production could only help with the quality and accuracy of it. Instead, we get this cheesy Lifetime rendition which is basically a mimicry of millions-viewed police bodycam videos and Instagram photos, while it fills in the gaps with mere speculation of what could have happened. It is also annoying how genders and races of cops and lawyers are changed for no good reason. And the victim Gabby's portrayal is cringe throughout, while I hate to admit that the actor portraying the perpetrator Brian seems spot-on in his performance. Three stars for that effort - he has the same look, same voice, same awkward body language, and convincing unpredictable rage.
Gabby Petito - Never Goes Outside
kgmycnhsd1 February 2024
The good - Brian Laundry - what an actor - absolutely spot on. He's every bit the awkward jealous, insecure Brian Laundry we've seen on footage. The scene where he kicks off in the cafeteria is probably one of the best scenes in the film.
The bad - Gabby Petito - the over acting, cringe voice she puts on in an attempt to sound like Gabby footage is dreadful. Because she's way older too than Gabby was it comes across immature.
The ugly - sad to learn that the Petito family wasn't approached and that nothing was donated to their foundation.
Thora Birch trying to keep her hand in acting by directing/producing this probably wasn't the wisest of choices in what appears to be a money grab and wasted opportunity to get the real story across about who Gabby Petito was and why her tragic death and story is so important.
The bad - Gabby Petito - the over acting, cringe voice she puts on in an attempt to sound like Gabby footage is dreadful. Because she's way older too than Gabby was it comes across immature.
The ugly - sad to learn that the Petito family wasn't approached and that nothing was donated to their foundation.
Thora Birch trying to keep her hand in acting by directing/producing this probably wasn't the wisest of choices in what appears to be a money grab and wasted opportunity to get the real story across about who Gabby Petito was and why her tragic death and story is so important.
Lifetime hasn't given a dime to Gabby's family
apocalypticcuteness3 October 2022
Lifetime did not have permission to make this movie. They made it anyway. They did not have the rights to Gabby's image. They made it anyway.
They had 30 minutes of ads throughout the premiere and are now selling the movie for $5 online. Yet not a dime has been given to the Gabby Petito Foundation. That's just wrong.
If you want to watch the movie, I'd suggest finding a way that doesn't involve Lifetime getting any money from it (Arrrrr).
They re-enacted Gabby's videos, her pictures, they re-enacted the Moab police stop. It's weird, the actress even wore the same clothes Gabby did. The rest of the story is highly fictionalized. They got pretty much all the fictionalized parts wrong. But I'm not here to correct them, that's up to Gabby's family.
I'm giving it 3 stars because the actress did nail Gabby's voice and mannerisms.
They had 30 minutes of ads throughout the premiere and are now selling the movie for $5 online. Yet not a dime has been given to the Gabby Petito Foundation. That's just wrong.
If you want to watch the movie, I'd suggest finding a way that doesn't involve Lifetime getting any money from it (Arrrrr).
They re-enacted Gabby's videos, her pictures, they re-enacted the Moab police stop. It's weird, the actress even wore the same clothes Gabby did. The rest of the story is highly fictionalized. They got pretty much all the fictionalized parts wrong. But I'm not here to correct them, that's up to Gabby's family.
I'm giving it 3 stars because the actress did nail Gabby's voice and mannerisms.
Horrible acting and no factual events
ktay-3625418 October 2022
I live in Florida, and I followed the story very closely, sorry, but this movie is an abomination. The girl playing Gabby looks like she's in her 30s, and Gabby was barely in her 20s. I don't know where they got their information from, or their actors, but this is terrible!!!
The Petito family deserves better than this ridiculous, rushed, half thought out storyline that does not tell the true story of what happened to this poor girl. Please don't waste your time watching this movie, it needs to be removed immediately, never to surface again. I'm sure one day this subject matter will be relevant in some manner, but this is just not the time or the movie.
The Petito family deserves better than this ridiculous, rushed, half thought out storyline that does not tell the true story of what happened to this poor girl. Please don't waste your time watching this movie, it needs to be removed immediately, never to surface again. I'm sure one day this subject matter will be relevant in some manner, but this is just not the time or the movie.
The Story That Riveted A Nation
lavatch2 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The time is August 12, 2021. The place is Moab, Utah. Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie are pulled over in their little white van by the police due to a domestic conflict phoned into a 911 line. There has been much controversy over whether the Utah police acted properly. Their instruction to the couple was to spend the night separately and not in the van. Some believe that a citation should have been issued. But it is difficult to understand what more the police could have done in this situation.
The filmmakers approached the Moab scene by faithfully recreating the dialogue exchanged by the police with Gabby and Brian, who were interviewed separately. The scene is representative of the entire approach to the film that seeks to accurately present a deeply troubled relationship. The casting and the performances were so lifelike that the film almost approached a documentary style.
One of the most challenging parts of the film was in how to interpret the character of Brian Laundrie. The filmmakers chose to portray him with a low IQ when it came to interpersonal relationships. He took meds for a "chemical imbalance." He had a jealous streak. He may have been a talented artist, but his work was apparently disturbing. And he was not very career minded; Gabby's friend Rose referred to him as "bummer boy."
And Brian was also inordinately insecure. In high school, he did not feel that he was worthy of asking Gabby for a date. And when they connected after high school, he could not really believe why Gabby would give him a chance. One of Gabby's bloggers wrote, "Why don't you dump the cue ball?" The audience had the same question. Arguably, the best performance was that of the actor assigned the daunting task of playing Brian.
The surreal scene of Brian driving the van back to Florida ALONE and the Laundrie family's unwillingness to cooperate with the authorizes was also well presented. It might be said that Brian deserves the opportunity to answer questions and tell his side of the story. But he in effect relinquished that privilege when he took his own life in the Carlton Nature Preserve.
There was some breathtaking cinematography of the American heartland and the Rockies during the infamous cross-country trip. The beautiful natural environment was juxtaposed with the sordid and disintegrating relationship of Gabby and Brian. At Spread Creek in the Teton National Forest Campground, the filmmakers constructed an intense dialogue in the hypothetical final conversation of Gabby and Brian. As with all of the artistic choices in this film, it was an eerily convincing coda to an unbearably sad story.
The filmmakers approached the Moab scene by faithfully recreating the dialogue exchanged by the police with Gabby and Brian, who were interviewed separately. The scene is representative of the entire approach to the film that seeks to accurately present a deeply troubled relationship. The casting and the performances were so lifelike that the film almost approached a documentary style.
One of the most challenging parts of the film was in how to interpret the character of Brian Laundrie. The filmmakers chose to portray him with a low IQ when it came to interpersonal relationships. He took meds for a "chemical imbalance." He had a jealous streak. He may have been a talented artist, but his work was apparently disturbing. And he was not very career minded; Gabby's friend Rose referred to him as "bummer boy."
And Brian was also inordinately insecure. In high school, he did not feel that he was worthy of asking Gabby for a date. And when they connected after high school, he could not really believe why Gabby would give him a chance. One of Gabby's bloggers wrote, "Why don't you dump the cue ball?" The audience had the same question. Arguably, the best performance was that of the actor assigned the daunting task of playing Brian.
The surreal scene of Brian driving the van back to Florida ALONE and the Laundrie family's unwillingness to cooperate with the authorizes was also well presented. It might be said that Brian deserves the opportunity to answer questions and tell his side of the story. But he in effect relinquished that privilege when he took his own life in the Carlton Nature Preserve.
There was some breathtaking cinematography of the American heartland and the Rockies during the infamous cross-country trip. The beautiful natural environment was juxtaposed with the sordid and disintegrating relationship of Gabby and Brian. At Spread Creek in the Teton National Forest Campground, the filmmakers constructed an intense dialogue in the hypothetical final conversation of Gabby and Brian. As with all of the artistic choices in this film, it was an eerily convincing coda to an unbearably sad story.
I made it 11 mins and 36 seconds into this movie
maureen-c-devolder22 December 2022
The acting is painful to watch, even for a lifetime movie. Thora Birch playing Gabby's mom? Absolutely, ridiculously unbelievable. The actress playing Gabby is 28 years old and overacting to the point where she sounds like a whiny 10 year old. This entire thing just seems like a quick cash grab to capitalize on this poor young girls story. Her story deserves better than this. Her family deserve better than this. Gabby deserves better than this.
Of all the cheap ways to make a buck... I'd watch it a million times, if Gabby's family were receiving any money for this atrocity, but they aren't. So I won't even bother.
Of all the cheap ways to make a buck... I'd watch it a million times, if Gabby's family were receiving any money for this atrocity, but they aren't. So I won't even bother.
(Friend of the family) Just utterly disgusting
MagicPanda3 November 2023
Only two things you need to know:
-They never asked the family for permission (because they knew they'd say no). They even we
-not a dime of revenue from this went to the Gabby Petito Foundation.
No one in the family watched it.
This isn't a respectful adaptation or anything like that, this is a money grab. It's a reenactment of the public perception of Gabby's journey, down to the clothing and locations and casting lookalikes for her family.
I don't know for sure what Gabby would think of this movie, but I know she would resent the pain it caused her family and be angry at the studio who greenlit this.
No one in the family watched it.
This isn't a respectful adaptation or anything like that, this is a money grab. It's a reenactment of the public perception of Gabby's journey, down to the clothing and locations and casting lookalikes for her family.
I don't know for sure what Gabby would think of this movie, but I know she would resent the pain it caused her family and be angry at the studio who greenlit this.
Horribly done
missbella-049606 November 2022
I think this could have been put together so much better. This was a sad story. I could not stop watching the news I just felt the movie was too rushed.. no chemistry between characters .... Any of them.
The best friend was beyond cheesy. She seemed more into herself than the role. What's up with the eyelashes There was no lead up, I didn't have any connection with anyone Gabby deserved so much better
How do we know what their last words were? I know this isn't 100% accurate. But we don't know what was going on.
Brian and his family are absolutely horrible people Karma has its way of working around.
The best friend was beyond cheesy. She seemed more into herself than the role. What's up with the eyelashes There was no lead up, I didn't have any connection with anyone Gabby deserved so much better
How do we know what their last words were? I know this isn't 100% accurate. But we don't know what was going on.
Brian and his family are absolutely horrible people Karma has its way of working around.
Telling a Pretty Girl Syndrome, Trope-Filled Fairy Tale....ad nauseam
mortradio17 January 2024
If you walked up to most 40-year-olds (or older) and asked them who Laci Peterson was, their response will probably be something like, "Isn't that the pregnant woman whose husband killed her?"
If you walked up to most 40-year-olds (or older) and asked them who Evelyn Hernandez was, their response will probably be something like, "Who?"
That's Pretty Girl Syndrome - True Crime Edition.
Both women (Laci and Evelyn) went missing in 2002. Both women were later discovered (or, actually, parts of them were discovered) months later. Both women had their child murdered as well, with Laci's child being in the womb while Evelyn's child was a toddler. Yet, whereas the Laci Peterson double murder made headlines, the Evelyn Hernandez double murder receive pretty much nothing more than a burp from media outlets.
Yeah, even true crime has elements of show business in it.
Now, to be perfectly honest, I have nothing but disdain for people who continually ready themselves to spit out the word, "privileged", at a moment notice. They are fools who should be treated as such. Yet, because I try to be honest when jotting down my thoughts and opinions, I will say that "privileged" does pop up whenever someone goes missing, or worse, is murdered. There is no better example of this than the bloated case of the Gabby Petito murder.
If one takes away all the media glamour of the Petito murder (yes, I said glamour) they will find a very simple case of a mutually toxic relationship that took it a step too far. It has happened a thousand times before and will happen a thousand more times. Yet, even though there is nothing strange, unusual, or interesting that occurred in the Petito murder case, Lifetime and Thora Birch decided to make their film, "The Gabby Petito Story".
Why?
Because Petito fits the criteria for Pretty Girl Syndrome.
For the Pretty Girl Syndrome to work, certain requirements must be met. The girl must be white. That is nonnegotiable. Also a nonnegotiable trait is attractiveness. The girl has to be considered pretty by the general populace. Additionally, even though some think overweight women are attractive, with Pretty Girl Syndrome, the girl has to be 125lbs or less. Finally, the girl has to be at least from a middle-class background. She can be from a more affluent background, but then she has to have a more "down to earth" quality about her. For a female victim to be nationally noticed by the media, Pretty Girl Syndrome must be adhered to.
Obviously, Gabby Petito met the requirements for Pretty Girl Syndrome, and thus, her story and face were plastered all over news outlets and social media, and a few movies/documentaries were made about her. And Thora Birch's film, "The Gabby Petito Story" is the most obscene result of the media circus from the Petito Murder Case.
The film reeks with falsehoods and tropes. In the film, Petito is an independent free-spirit, sweet and kind, who is attempting to make a name for herself. Because Petito is a free-spirit, sweet and kind, that makes her naïve about how evil her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, really is. She must be blind as well, since Petito never notices how here boyfriend is always huffing and puffing in anger, growling and yelling, or flinging tortilla chips across the room. Yeah, he tossed my dinner across the room, but I love him. And Laundrie is such an oppressive force that Petito always ignores all of her friends' advice to "leave him". Of course, Laundrie tries to get Petito to give up on her "Van Life" blog, mainly because he is jealous and controlling. It's not at all because the whole "Van Life" idea was just a flop and would never make any money.
Obviously, Birch's "The Gabby Petito Story" is trope heaven. The film wasn't made to explain the events of the Petito Murder, or to bring awareness to abusive relationships (on both sides). Petito is an angel and Laundrie is a demon. That is basically the plot of this worthless film. This film was made for sensationalism, and its cash-grab, and nothing more. What makes this film all the more distasteful is that it isn't even any good, which is the ultimate sin that any film can make. But then again, Birch's "The Gabby Petito Story" wasn't made for the sake to tell an actual story.
To believe that Gabby Petito's life needed to be etched into cinematic stone is comical to say the least. Her "importance" is rooted in Pretty Girl Syndrome. Be it for the fact that she was pretty, murdered, and had a villainous boyfriend, no one would be interested in a film about her, for her life was average (like the rest of us). Lifetime, Birch, her fellow producers, and the leading actors and actresses did nothing more that suckle off the Petito Crime Teet. The film was hastily put together and given a spit-shine before the cash-cow was taken to the rendering farm, and it shows in the final product. It is painfully obvious to anyone viewing the trope-filled film that is was made because the requirements for Pretty Girl Syndrome were met and the audience (money) was there.
But hey, that's why it's called "show business".
Strangely enough, there is a story to be told with the Petito Murder, and it is the story of the fragility of social media. Much like when the Seirenes would lure sailors to sail their boats towards them, only to have to boat smash against the rocks and drown the sailors, the Petito Murder shows how utterly ignorant a person(s) can be when chasing the illusion of becoming "viral". The film could have portrayed how a mutually toxic and immature couple (Petito and Laundrie) come up with the ill-fated idea of becoming popular "YouTubers" and set off to find their viral fame, only to discover later that the whole YouTube lifestyle is a pipe dream. Yes, a rare few make a name for themselves, but most (like Petito and Laundrie) fall to the waist-side and are forgotten. And because they are hit with this cold reality, along with an already mutually toxic and abusive relationship, the Petito murder occurs.
But Lifetime and Birch didn't tell that story. Why? Because it is true.
So sit through the 90 minute trope tofu-fest of Birch's "The Gabby Petito Story", but if you think you are being told the story (as boring as it is), you are woefully wrong. You are being lied to.
If you walked up to most 40-year-olds (or older) and asked them who Evelyn Hernandez was, their response will probably be something like, "Who?"
That's Pretty Girl Syndrome - True Crime Edition.
Both women (Laci and Evelyn) went missing in 2002. Both women were later discovered (or, actually, parts of them were discovered) months later. Both women had their child murdered as well, with Laci's child being in the womb while Evelyn's child was a toddler. Yet, whereas the Laci Peterson double murder made headlines, the Evelyn Hernandez double murder receive pretty much nothing more than a burp from media outlets.
Yeah, even true crime has elements of show business in it.
Now, to be perfectly honest, I have nothing but disdain for people who continually ready themselves to spit out the word, "privileged", at a moment notice. They are fools who should be treated as such. Yet, because I try to be honest when jotting down my thoughts and opinions, I will say that "privileged" does pop up whenever someone goes missing, or worse, is murdered. There is no better example of this than the bloated case of the Gabby Petito murder.
If one takes away all the media glamour of the Petito murder (yes, I said glamour) they will find a very simple case of a mutually toxic relationship that took it a step too far. It has happened a thousand times before and will happen a thousand more times. Yet, even though there is nothing strange, unusual, or interesting that occurred in the Petito murder case, Lifetime and Thora Birch decided to make their film, "The Gabby Petito Story".
Why?
Because Petito fits the criteria for Pretty Girl Syndrome.
For the Pretty Girl Syndrome to work, certain requirements must be met. The girl must be white. That is nonnegotiable. Also a nonnegotiable trait is attractiveness. The girl has to be considered pretty by the general populace. Additionally, even though some think overweight women are attractive, with Pretty Girl Syndrome, the girl has to be 125lbs or less. Finally, the girl has to be at least from a middle-class background. She can be from a more affluent background, but then she has to have a more "down to earth" quality about her. For a female victim to be nationally noticed by the media, Pretty Girl Syndrome must be adhered to.
Obviously, Gabby Petito met the requirements for Pretty Girl Syndrome, and thus, her story and face were plastered all over news outlets and social media, and a few movies/documentaries were made about her. And Thora Birch's film, "The Gabby Petito Story" is the most obscene result of the media circus from the Petito Murder Case.
The film reeks with falsehoods and tropes. In the film, Petito is an independent free-spirit, sweet and kind, who is attempting to make a name for herself. Because Petito is a free-spirit, sweet and kind, that makes her naïve about how evil her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, really is. She must be blind as well, since Petito never notices how here boyfriend is always huffing and puffing in anger, growling and yelling, or flinging tortilla chips across the room. Yeah, he tossed my dinner across the room, but I love him. And Laundrie is such an oppressive force that Petito always ignores all of her friends' advice to "leave him". Of course, Laundrie tries to get Petito to give up on her "Van Life" blog, mainly because he is jealous and controlling. It's not at all because the whole "Van Life" idea was just a flop and would never make any money.
Obviously, Birch's "The Gabby Petito Story" is trope heaven. The film wasn't made to explain the events of the Petito Murder, or to bring awareness to abusive relationships (on both sides). Petito is an angel and Laundrie is a demon. That is basically the plot of this worthless film. This film was made for sensationalism, and its cash-grab, and nothing more. What makes this film all the more distasteful is that it isn't even any good, which is the ultimate sin that any film can make. But then again, Birch's "The Gabby Petito Story" wasn't made for the sake to tell an actual story.
To believe that Gabby Petito's life needed to be etched into cinematic stone is comical to say the least. Her "importance" is rooted in Pretty Girl Syndrome. Be it for the fact that she was pretty, murdered, and had a villainous boyfriend, no one would be interested in a film about her, for her life was average (like the rest of us). Lifetime, Birch, her fellow producers, and the leading actors and actresses did nothing more that suckle off the Petito Crime Teet. The film was hastily put together and given a spit-shine before the cash-cow was taken to the rendering farm, and it shows in the final product. It is painfully obvious to anyone viewing the trope-filled film that is was made because the requirements for Pretty Girl Syndrome were met and the audience (money) was there.
But hey, that's why it's called "show business".
Strangely enough, there is a story to be told with the Petito Murder, and it is the story of the fragility of social media. Much like when the Seirenes would lure sailors to sail their boats towards them, only to have to boat smash against the rocks and drown the sailors, the Petito Murder shows how utterly ignorant a person(s) can be when chasing the illusion of becoming "viral". The film could have portrayed how a mutually toxic and immature couple (Petito and Laundrie) come up with the ill-fated idea of becoming popular "YouTubers" and set off to find their viral fame, only to discover later that the whole YouTube lifestyle is a pipe dream. Yes, a rare few make a name for themselves, but most (like Petito and Laundrie) fall to the waist-side and are forgotten. And because they are hit with this cold reality, along with an already mutually toxic and abusive relationship, the Petito murder occurs.
But Lifetime and Birch didn't tell that story. Why? Because it is true.
So sit through the 90 minute trope tofu-fest of Birch's "The Gabby Petito Story", but if you think you are being told the story (as boring as it is), you are woefully wrong. You are being lied to.
Shockingly boring
chinchillasgalore3 October 2022
I love lifetime and typically find them pretty entertaining but this one is unbelievably boring. I had such a hard time paying attention and staying interested in the storyline.
I know and love some of the actors so I don't think it's their action ability but it must be the riders or something. You just don't feel any empathy for the characters and the music doesn't help make you feel the emotions in the scene.
I was highly anticipating this movie and it just fell very flat. It felt rushed, and I'm sure it was, but I would've rather waited a bit longer and had them put a little more effort into it and really developed the characters more.
I know and love some of the actors so I don't think it's their action ability but it must be the riders or something. You just don't feel any empathy for the characters and the music doesn't help make you feel the emotions in the scene.
I was highly anticipating this movie and it just fell very flat. It felt rushed, and I'm sure it was, but I would've rather waited a bit longer and had them put a little more effort into it and really developed the characters more.
Yes, I enjoyed the movie for what it is
fecapati-8671929 May 2023
Looks like there's a split here with reviews for the movie. Some people hate it; some people were satisfied with it, me included.
First off, I understand that value of respect, or disrespect according to others, of the story still being fresh in their eyes. As well as the fact that the actual families of Gabby and Brian did not put any of their time into this adaptation. Or that this was only a cash grab. Frankly, I think those reviewers thought too much into it. It's a movie. An adaptation of the real-life story of Gabby and Brian and truthfully, I think the cast, directors, producers did a fine job. I am quite certain they tried their best to respect the lives affected by this and all they wanted was to project the life Gabby and Brian had together leading up to her murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was interesting to actually see the dramatizations that many of us already had in our minds about Brian, specifically. They brought every snapshot the media reported and the in-between of what may have happened. I watched it until the very end just glued to the TV and it brought back the sorrow and sympathy I felt for Gabby when this was national news a couple years ago.
This was a low-budget film, I mean it was a Lifetime movie, not a Hollywood blockbuster. So I already knew what to expect from this production. So with that said, I took this movie in with curiousity and intrigue and have enjoyed it. Cash grab? No. Too soon? Nah. The parents' disapproval? Sure, that's their choice. But I would not let it prevent you from watching it.
All I can say is that I did enjoy it, I definitely was intrigued by it, and it did help piece together some of the narrative I already had in my thoughts. I'm sure the cast and crew just wanted to bring the story together so we can sympathize it even more. So, because of that at face-value, I give it an 8 out of 10. I'd say watch it. It was entertaining enough.
First off, I understand that value of respect, or disrespect according to others, of the story still being fresh in their eyes. As well as the fact that the actual families of Gabby and Brian did not put any of their time into this adaptation. Or that this was only a cash grab. Frankly, I think those reviewers thought too much into it. It's a movie. An adaptation of the real-life story of Gabby and Brian and truthfully, I think the cast, directors, producers did a fine job. I am quite certain they tried their best to respect the lives affected by this and all they wanted was to project the life Gabby and Brian had together leading up to her murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was interesting to actually see the dramatizations that many of us already had in our minds about Brian, specifically. They brought every snapshot the media reported and the in-between of what may have happened. I watched it until the very end just glued to the TV and it brought back the sorrow and sympathy I felt for Gabby when this was national news a couple years ago.
This was a low-budget film, I mean it was a Lifetime movie, not a Hollywood blockbuster. So I already knew what to expect from this production. So with that said, I took this movie in with curiousity and intrigue and have enjoyed it. Cash grab? No. Too soon? Nah. The parents' disapproval? Sure, that's their choice. But I would not let it prevent you from watching it.
All I can say is that I did enjoy it, I definitely was intrigued by it, and it did help piece together some of the narrative I already had in my thoughts. I'm sure the cast and crew just wanted to bring the story together so we can sympathize it even more. So, because of that at face-value, I give it an 8 out of 10. I'd say watch it. It was entertaining enough.
Absolutely Awful
jtc-0580317 October 2022
Every part of this movie was absolutely awful, unrealistic, and just downright disrespectful. I understand it's hard to assume the story line, but there wasn't even an attempt, you can scroll Facebook and visualize a movie better than this. The acting was terrible, the cast was unfitting, and the storyline was terrible. They tried to cram way to much in a short movie, the only legitimate scene was the MOAB scene, and even it was awful. They could have actually put more time and detail in this, instead of rushing to make a quick buck, but they didn't and the result was a terrible movie and insult to the Gabby petito story and family.
Terrible
r-garton-9135 November 2022
As with all Lifetime movies, the goal is hire B list talent, spend under 20K, pray nobody knows anything about the real locations we substitute in California for because we are too cheap to travel to or research the real deal, and oh yea, write the script taking as many liberties we leagally can. As with sime others here, I grew up in Jackson Hole-GTNP area. I Knew the area well which was Gabby's final resting place. I am even am familar with the Utah locations having been there as well. This film butchered them both. You would think common sense would say at least use stock footage for establishing shots.
Absolutely Terrible Acting And A Poor Representation Of A Life Taken
flowerstardust197914 November 2022
This was so bad. The acting was horrific. Skyler Samuel's isn't actually a bad actress, it was the put on voice that made it so bad. No doubt she was directed to portray Gabby in this manner but it didn't go down well.
This movie shouldn't of been made to be honest. It was disrespectful. I had heard some things about the real life case and for some reason thought it occurred 5 years ago but the poor girl was murdered only last year. To make a movie about her murder, and it would of been filmed less than 1 year after her death was incredibly disrespectful to her poor family.
This isn't actually really based on completely true events, a lot of what is in the movie is surmising over what actually occurred between Gabby and her murderer, based on whatever the script writer could find on the Internet. So basically they've cashed in on writing a script about what they thought happened. No one knows what conversations took place between Gabby and her murderer. It was an exploitive and unnecessary! The terrible acting and direction just added insult to injury.
I'm sure Gabby's family didn't want this movie made in the name of entertainment. I'm sorry I watched it. Let the poor girl rest in peace and have the courtesy to let her family live in privacy. This was a poorly executed drama of a horrific loss at the hands of an evil man.
This movie shouldn't of been made to be honest. It was disrespectful. I had heard some things about the real life case and for some reason thought it occurred 5 years ago but the poor girl was murdered only last year. To make a movie about her murder, and it would of been filmed less than 1 year after her death was incredibly disrespectful to her poor family.
This isn't actually really based on completely true events, a lot of what is in the movie is surmising over what actually occurred between Gabby and her murderer, based on whatever the script writer could find on the Internet. So basically they've cashed in on writing a script about what they thought happened. No one knows what conversations took place between Gabby and her murderer. It was an exploitive and unnecessary! The terrible acting and direction just added insult to injury.
I'm sure Gabby's family didn't want this movie made in the name of entertainment. I'm sorry I watched it. Let the poor girl rest in peace and have the courtesy to let her family live in privacy. This was a poorly executed drama of a horrific loss at the hands of an evil man.
Horrible
sashac-1772117 April 2023
One of the worst movies I have seen and acting was so bad! The story line was All over the place and I don't think really caught her actually story as well as real events of the tragedy that happened. It was just horrible And definitely don't recommend. I really wish lifetime would have took their time on the movie and really got all the details of Gabbys life plus put more into it that actually happened. Definitely could have used better actors especially for Brian because, he was terrible. It felt so rushed and not very rehearsed, they definitely just wanted to be the first to make a movie on this.
Haunting and Mediocre
danicaxhayley30 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The movie started off pretty fast and gets straight to the point, then takes an hour+ dragging out the rest of the details, which i've noticed with other lifetime movies. Anyway, the acting was good and i think it did a good job on showing what domestic violence is really like, but then again i've never seen any other movies or shows that portray that so there may be better ways to execute it. Besides that, it doesn't mean that lifetime should have continued making this movie. The petito family specifically said not to have this movie made, and the first thing lifetime does is make it. It honestly looks like they did this out of pettiness, rushed through the movie, and made it mediocre just so they could have a movie made to taunt them. Maybe if this were a documentary instead (with the family's permission of course) it would have been way better, because watching a movie about this case just looks like a mockery of the situation. Anyway, close to the middle/end, gabby goes missing and is eventually pronounced as dead. At that part it definitely left an impression on me, and it felt very haunting. I felt sick for seeing just what happened to the actress, that i can't even imagine how even more sickening it is for people who knew gabby petito themselves. In summary the acting was good in my opinion and the script for the most part was well made (except for cringey attempts to try and keep up with modern slang), but it was executed poorly.
Doing a service to the abused women out there
PotomacPunchy18 October 2022
To all those who are complaining that the filmmakers didn't have permission to make the movie, I think you need to shift your focus.
A few years ago in the US four women per day were murdered most often by a current or former partner.
Recently it's now five women per day. No one else is doing anything substantial to help stop women in this country from being murdered, nor stop the victim blaming, except movies like this which show what an abuser and victim look like.
It does a fantastic job of showing the different stages in a situation between an abusive partner and their victim.
Movies like this save lives much more than people who complain about little things.
A few years ago in the US four women per day were murdered most often by a current or former partner.
Recently it's now five women per day. No one else is doing anything substantial to help stop women in this country from being murdered, nor stop the victim blaming, except movies like this which show what an abuser and victim look like.
It does a fantastic job of showing the different stages in a situation between an abusive partner and their victim.
Movies like this save lives much more than people who complain about little things.
Was excited, but very disappointed
frannyrosa17 October 2022
I watched this movie last night and I hated it! It was very badly made just the acting is bad and the way it was filmed looked bad. It really does not share the story well, and it makes him look like a victim of mental illness wayyy worse than it was. Like they told it as if the director was on Brian's side and I didn't like it. It just felt more dramatic than the actual story. Obviously we don't know what happened every day for those 3 months so they made up things to make it more interesting which they noted at the end, plus the timeline of events didn't make sense like they put things out of order to tell the story their own way. And on top of all that they skipped import details that came out. This movie was so rushed it didn't come out well. I was excited about this coming out but was very disappointed after watching it.
Poor dynamics
missabellaj22 February 2024
This is a film depicting domestic violence, circumstances matter. The actress portraying Gabby is someone who appears to be in her early thirties when Gabby AND her friend were in their twenties. A for effort, but for victims who have been there and done that, it does NOT portray an unknowing victim.
The events appear accurate, and also introduces an element of mental health problems as to Brian which was not made main stream to the public, which could shift the court of public opinion.
I don't know. I have mixed thoughts. New elements, and improper casting leaves me feeling unsettled about public perception.
The events appear accurate, and also introduces an element of mental health problems as to Brian which was not made main stream to the public, which could shift the court of public opinion.
I don't know. I have mixed thoughts. New elements, and improper casting leaves me feeling unsettled about public perception.
Movie was disrespectful to Gabby and her family but movie was okay
lovelyxnight22 July 2023
I really delayed watching this film because to me it's sickening that they could do this to the family and to Gabby. They not only rushed to make this to get money in their greedy hands but they didn't give any money to the gabby petito foundation at all and if I also remember correctly the family did not give permission to make the movie so with all of that in mind, it is impossible to give it higher than 4 stars out of 10. Aside from that, I think the casting was good although I do agree with others in that the actress that plays Gabby's Mom looked too young, they could of cast someone slightly older because she looked 30s and more like an older sister. But they got several things wrong in this film like how she hit Brian first when the witness had actually said Brian hit her first, etc. Overall okay film but not accurate and disrespectful so they should have either not made the film at all or at the very least waited a while longer.
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