In that first scene following the first date we see April go on, we can easily guess at the actual nature of the plot, a guess which is confirmed within the next several minutes of the first act as the film shows us exactly what's going on. That bare-faced storytelling doesn't preclude the possibility of this still being fun, but it does mean that the most unique idea it had going for it has been deliberately hamstrung within about twenty minutes, and the actual nature of the plot is about as common as the house fly. And the thing is, this continues to be the ethos that 'Nice girls don't explode' adopts with regards to other plot ideas, its scene writing, and its characters. Especially with that plainspoken tenor in mind, the writing of other plot ideas, scenes, and characters quickly grows tiresome rather than amusing. Moreover, instead of the cleverness this could have employed in its storytelling and comedy, there's a substantial mean streak coursing through the feature - and animal cruelty, tinges of racism and homophobia, and light treatment of bestiality and sexual assault are the least of it.
The premise sounds fun, but the end result isn't, except maybe in mild fits and starts. The nearest I came to laughing (and still didn't) was a scene at the one-hour mark, which feels like it should be the climax; instead of a few minutes, however, there are more than twenty left in the runtime at this juncture. There was so much potential here, but it feels from start to finish like Paul Harris' actual screenplay is straining to conjure workable ideas, and the best the writer could come up with was sorry, meager, forthright meanness; gags and jokes so cheap that they don't elicit a laugh even once, let alone upon repeated use; and beats and ideas so outrageous as to be nonsensical and further quash the entertainment value. Harris seems to have a few writing credits to his name, though for as awful as his ideas were here, I don't know how he managed to make a career out of it at all. For as awful as his ideas were here, I don't know how his screenplay ever got picked up for production. Director Chuck Martinez and the cast, including the inimitable Wallace Shawn and the familiar visage of William O'Leary, make the most that they can of the material, but can only do so much.
Those operating behind the scenes turned in fine work, sure. The effects stand out most, and the art direction, costume design, hair, and makeup are lovely. Yet these qualities only get one so far. I expected a good time when I sat to watch, but time and again weak writing dampened my enjoyment until my overall opinion turned south. I suppose I would have to watch more titles that Harris contributed to as a writer to discover if he ever found his knack in the medium, but after seeing what he whipped up for 'Nice girls explode,' I don't particularly want to walk down that path. I'm glad for those who appreciate this more than I do, but I think the possibilities of the concept are thoroughly wasted outright, and the screenplay is too poor at large to make this count for much of anything. As far as I'm concerned, whatever it is you're hoping to get out of this, keep looking elsewhere instead.
