Waiting For Roxy

I recently saw, for the first time, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990).  It's a comedy-drama directed by Jim Abrahams, who was pretty big-time back then, having directed in the 1980s Airplane! and Ruthless People with the Zucker brothers as well as Big Business.

It stars a teenage Winona Rider (who'd already done Heathers and Beetlejuice) and a fairly young Jeff Daniels.  The movie is about a small town where Roxy Carmichael--a minor film star who left the place fifteen years ago--is returning, so everyone's excited.

The film got poor reviews and flopped.  So why am I writing about it?  Because I see a major flaw.  The title is about welcoming this Roxy Carmichael back.  The whole film is leading up to this moment.  And guess what happens in the climax?  She doesn't show up.

I'm sorry, but you can't have this title and then not have her return.  I'm not saying it would have fixed the film--probably nothing could have--but come on.