When I read reviews of Tow, I learned about the true story of Amanda Ogle, and I became enraged. I’ve always been emotionally affected by those tales of how the “little guy” defeats the big bad villains. Here, Ogle, a woman suffering from homelessness, was a victim of a car theft. Said car functions as her house. When the car was found, it was towed to a lot, but Amanda was charged impound and towing fees. The car was stolen, so she shouldn’t have to pay those fees, right? A judge agreed and ordered the company to release the car. By then, it was sold. And so ensued a year-long battle with the company just to get her car, a 1991 Toyota Camry, released. But she did win, thanks to the help of a young lawyer for a nonprofit that represents the indigent.
In the movie, Rose Byrne elicits a lot of sympathy. She portrays Amanda as a recovering alcoholic who’s estranged from her daughter. Details about the father (or ex-husband) aren’t provided. But the ordeal forces her into a facility where she’s provided a key to sobriety and a better life. She also connects with other single women, including one played by Demi Lovato.
My favorite character is Barbara, the head of the facility and also a recovering addict and single woman. Played by real-life single Octavia Spencer, she’s a no-nonsense woman who has internalized Paul’s message about how “the unmarried can serve God.” And she really does. No porn in her house, because “we’re on the Lord’s Wifi.”
The villain in the movie, the company’s lawyer played by Corbin Bernsen, sports an engagement ring and plays golf. He tells Amanda’s lawyer “I will bankrupt your firm!” All for an ego around an 1991 Camry.
There’s another notable character in the movie, Cliff. He works at the tow company and has to follow protocol, but he’s sympathetic toward Amanda, offering her an ice pack after she’s been punched by another resident of the facility and replacing her muffler after she finally gets the car pack. My heart sunk a bit when I thought they’d get romantically involved, but that didn’t happen. He’s just a good soul with a job and a dog.
We need more folks like Barbara’s and Cliff in the world. And more true stories like Amanda’s.