"Citizen Ruth" is the story of Ruth Stoops, a woman who nobody even noticed -- until she got pregnant. Now, everyone wants a piece of her. The film is a comedy about one woman caught in the ultimate tug-of-war: a clash of wild, noisy, ridiculous people that rapidly dissolves into a media circus.

Smart and sharply funny, Citizen Ruth is an entertaining look at a tough subject -- and an impressive calling card for debuting director/co-writer Alexander Payne.

'Citizen Ruth' succeeds as thought-provoking satire with Laura Dern delivering an Oscar-worthy performance in Alexander Payne's directorial debut. The film's balanced lampoon of both pro-life and pro-choice activists resonated strongly, with dark humor effectively highlighting political hypocrisy. However, some found the writing weak-willed for avoiding definitive positions, while engagement levels varied—some calling it memorable, others finding it dull. The deliberately unsympathetic characters and controversial subject matter proved divisive, though most appreciated its refusal to offer easy answers.