Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Bill is a penniless drifter who scams strangers out of just enough money to feed himself and his partner in crime, an orphan girl known as Curly Sue. Bill and Curly Sue target Grey, a yuppie lawyer, but their con takes an unexpected turn when the successful woman begins to like the ramshackle duo. But there's one problem—Grey's jealous, conniving boyfriend, Walker.
Curly Sue is a well-intentioned but formulaic John Hughes family comedy that leans heavily on familiar tropes: the lovable street urchin, the cold-hearted professional softened by an unlikely bond, and the obstructive antagonist boyfriend. The plot hits every expected beat with little surprise. Acting is serviceable — Alisan Porter as Curly Sue has genuine charm, and James Belushi brings warmth to Bill, though Kelly Lynch is underutilized. Cinematography is workmanlike and unremarkable, typical of early-90s family fare. Novelty is low given how derivative the premise feels even by 1991 standards. The ending resolves predictably but with enough emotional warmth to satisfy the target audience.