Inspired by an old film, a young man seeks to overcome his shyness through ventriloquism. This is an odd little indie flick, but its optimism, charm and sweet nature, kept in check by some relatively dark comedy, makes it a pleasant watch. The plot isn't bad, though this really focuses more on the character development than the story, of which there really only is just barely enough for the 90 minutes of running time. Humor is fine, though if you don't know anything about Jewish family relationships(thus, if you are determined to check this out, make sure to take a course lasting at least a couple of episodes of the sit-com "The Nanny"), you won't get about a third of the material. Not all of the jokes and gags are funny, and there are at least a few bits where this comes off as trying much too hard to get laughs, and is unsuccessful. Then again, it's never downright embarrassing. The acting is great, Brody does marvelous as always, and Jovovich shines as the utterly manic punk-rock friend. Cinematography and editing are average, with at least an instance or two where the camera didn't move when it seemed like it ought to. There is a lot of truth in this, and in spite of this not being entirely devoid of sap(if quite close), it almost invariably makes its points without an unhealthy dose of saccharine. While the strong language and the occasional, usually mild sexual reference make this an R, this is mostly inoffensive. I recommend this to those who like dramas about having the courage to go for what you want, and romance movies. 7/10
Review of Dummy
