How have I never seen this movie before? I loved it.
The first few minutes are a little weak and it would be easy to turn it off at this point but it quickly finds its feet.
There are certainly times when it veers into high school humour but I think by not milking it but just doing it and moving right along it gets away with it. There are also some touching moments that again aren't milked, they're just presented for you to catch if you're paying attention.
The always reliable Parker Posey is here and there are moments when she's astonishingly beautiful.
There are lot of minor characters in this film and I like that there were all given the time and respect to do their work and have it shown. Too often in film minor characters are just considered filler or background and not given a chance to shine. The writing is sharp and there are some very good lines.
The film veers from comedy to drama repeatedly and rapidly but is always controlled.
[SPOILER ALERT]
Malcom Gets is good throughout the film but in a scene near the end when he quietly sings a song he is heartbreaking. He's transcendent. There are rare times when an actor gets to do this - Maggie Smith in a dark classroom lit by a projector in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"- Catherine O'Hara not getting the Academy Award nomination in "For Your Consideration".
Track it down if you can and give it a watch.
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