This independent film came out of the Sundance Film Festival with a lot of praise, winning a grand and a special jury prize. It went on to win several awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Much of the recognition has deservedly been lumped on writer/director/star Miranda July, who previous to making this film worked as a performance artist. Her film could be categorized as a romantic comedy, but that term undermines its dramatic and intellectual depth.
In a world of growing technology, Christine Jesperson (July) finds it harder and harder to really communicate with other people and develop new relationships. She’s working on a museum art piece during her off hours and operates a taxi service for the elderly to make money. One day while taking a client out to buy shoes, she meets recently divorced shoe salesman Richard Swersey (John Hawkes, THE PERFECT STORM), who has a strange philosophical outlook on life that instantly attracts her to him.
However, he isn’t really ready to jump into a new relationship and is more interested in trying to advance his relationship with his teenage son Peter (Miles Thompson, 13 CONVERSATION ABOUT ONE THING) and his six-year-old son Robby (Brandon Ratcliff, BREATHE). Other characters include — the Swersey’s next-door neighbor, tween Sylvie (Carlie Westerman, A CINDERELLA STORY), who has a passion for household appliances; Richard’s dimwitted co-worker Andrew (Brad William Henke, MUST LOVE DOGS), who strikes up a sexually provocative flirtation with Peter’s classmates Heather (Natasha Slayton, TV’s THE LIONHEARTS) and Rebecca (Najarra Townsend); Christine’s client Michael (Hector Elias, THREE AMIGOS); and Nancy Herrington (Tracy Wright, SUPERSTAR), a snobby exec at the museum where Christine wants to get her art displayed.
Christine and Richard are quirky people who we know are meant for each other. But as in life, things aren’t as easy as that. As with the Michael character, sometimes it takes 70 years of life to find that one right person. Indirectly the film reminded me of the thought that what if you’re one true love is an infant in Tanzania and you will never get a chance to meet? This film touches on those thoughts and feelings.
July’s screenplay is really subtle in how it weaves in its message about technology and communication. It’s one of those films that upon thinking about what happened you slowly realize how deep and layered the whole thing was. But the film isn’t dry or overly artsy in any way. For the most part it sucks you in on the human level. You fall for the quirky characters and want the best for them. And it’s really funny.
The scenes with Peter and Robby in the chat room are classic. Christine’s speech about the talking picture frame is just as great. A “Meet Cute” is a term for when a couple in a romantic comedy stumble into each and meet. The “Meet Cute” in this film isn’t as slapsticky as most, but it’s funny, charming, romantic and real. It’s one of the best “Meet Cutes” I’ve ever seen. The film is touching and sweet with something to say as well. It’s the most uplifting film I’ve seen this year so far. All I have to say is — Macaroni.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
