Upcoming indie film ends up a 'Gigantic' waste of time
Movie Review
Carissa Casares
Issue date: 5/19/09 Section: Entertainment
In the director's statement, Aselton said of the film, "At its leanest, it's a story about a single man trying to adopt a Chinese baby while a homeless assassin tries to kill him. As its richest, it's about people, what scares them, what excites them and how they treat each other." OK, so there's some explaining... in the press notes.
The film is tagged as a comedy, but don't let this fool you. The mood is predominantly morose. Harriet's nickname, "Happy," turns out to be ridiculously ironic. A child of divorce, "Happy" really isn't very happy at all, as evidenced when she wails during one scene, "My mother doesn't call me on my birthday." Deschalnel plays "Happy" Harriet as if she is comatose. Her voice trails off when see actually speaks, but most of the time she just stares off into nothingness. She tries to be quirky, which she is usually good at, but in this film she just ends up seeming odd and rather dull.
Aselton is clearly intrigued with a sort of strange family dynamic. There are a host of rather crazy family members that play supporting roles. As Lolly, Goodman is obnoxious and rude, cranky and not quite funny at all. Though he provides for Harriet, he doesn't seems to connect with her.
Mr. Weathersby (Edward Asner) is also wealthy and quite old-fashioned, requesting bourbon during a meeting with his son about the adoption and inquiring to the adoption agent why he doesn't have a "girl," referring to a secretary. Both fathers are, quite simply, overbearing. Mrs. Weathersby (Jane Alexander) comes in at the end of the film only to deliver on prudent line: "Nothing is normal." This is the one part that makes sense of the film as it attempts to explain the most baffling scenes. But it's not enough. This is one film not worth figuring out.
The film is tagged as a comedy, but don't let this fool you. The mood is predominantly morose. Harriet's nickname, "Happy," turns out to be ridiculously ironic. A child of divorce, "Happy" really isn't very happy at all, as evidenced when she wails during one scene, "My mother doesn't call me on my birthday." Deschalnel plays "Happy" Harriet as if she is comatose. Her voice trails off when see actually speaks, but most of the time she just stares off into nothingness. She tries to be quirky, which she is usually good at, but in this film she just ends up seeming odd and rather dull.
Aselton is clearly intrigued with a sort of strange family dynamic. There are a host of rather crazy family members that play supporting roles. As Lolly, Goodman is obnoxious and rude, cranky and not quite funny at all. Though he provides for Harriet, he doesn't seems to connect with her.
Mr. Weathersby (Edward Asner) is also wealthy and quite old-fashioned, requesting bourbon during a meeting with his son about the adoption and inquiring to the adoption agent why he doesn't have a "girl," referring to a secretary. Both fathers are, quite simply, overbearing. Mrs. Weathersby (Jane Alexander) comes in at the end of the film only to deliver on prudent line: "Nothing is normal." This is the one part that makes sense of the film as it attempts to explain the most baffling scenes. But it's not enough. This is one film not worth figuring out.
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