However, I did happen to catch a very good flick on Showtime called Dummy, starring Adrien Brody as a socially awkward 30-year-old wannabe ventriloquist, who still lives at home with his looney parents and antagonistic sister. Brody shows here the precision in his acting, as his subtle humor permeates his scenes, not to mention the fact that he does all of his own ventriloquist stunts.
At the start of the movie, writer/director Greg Pritikin delves us into Steven's ambitionless life, with a great and idiosyncratic cast of supporting characters. Milla Jovovich ('Fifth Element', and all around beautiful woman) does an outstanding job of playing, Fangora, the tough-on-the-surface chick friend of Steven's. Jovovich is excellent in being just annoying enough but also endearing in her stubbornness to give us a reason to understand why the introvert Steven is friends with such a different person.
Steven's parents, played by Jessica Walter (the mom on 'Arrested Development') and Ron Liebman (Rachel's dad from 'Friends') are superb. They are cliched characters as parents, but they aren't overacted, which is consistent with the rest of the movie. Rounding out Steven's family is his sister, Heidi (played by Ileana Douglas, a wonderful character actress, but I best remember her as Wendy Ward in the Jay Mohr series 'Action'). She is a wannabe singer, with some talent, that never got the support from her mother that she deserved. Heidi has just broken off her engagement and is now planning a Jewish wedding. What a great world Pritikin throws us into!
The catalyst for Steven's change in this movie comes when he gets fired from his office job, where he is an obvious derelict. Steven goes to see an employment specialist, single mom Lorena (played by Vera Forminga, '15 Minutes'). Steven actually confides in her that he really wants to be a ventriloquist, and after swallowing some laughter, she says that she will try to help him find an agent.
Steven begins to come out of his shell, and he buys a dummy to start practicing. The shy introverts now has a voice for the thoughts that never left his head. The dummy serves as Steven's expressive side, and his character begins to really flourish. The best part about Brody's performance here is that again, he doesn't overdo it. A great credit to the direction of Pritikin. Meanwhile, Fangora and her band struggle to morph into a Yiddish band to play at the wedding that Heidi is planning. Steven's father continues to build model ships in his retirement, his mother continues to try and feed everyone, and Steven struggles with love, life and his crazy friend.
So, instead of stars, thumbs up and all that other crap that others use to recommend movies, here's my own system:
- Sucks a doochie: Means that there is at least 90 minutes of my life that I'll never get back and that I am probably dumber for having seen this movie.
- Great Escape: Well, I'm not getting my money back, but at least there were lots of explosions, hot chicks some funny lines/scenes.
- Potential: Now, this has the potential to be great, but is not, so wait for video. Of course, this could also mean, this could potential cause seizures and severe cramping so watch at your own risk.
- Tasty Treat: Good movie, worth the money and time, giving you the viewer something to think about, feel, excite or just numb the mind in a good way. Still, not quite climactic.
- Rocks My Grandma: 'Nuff said.
Now, for Dummy I gotta go with Tasty Treat on this one. There were a couple of scenes that could have been used to really dial up the tension more, especially between Lorena and Steven. But overall, a great flick.
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