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Dummy (2002)

6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 4,766 users   Metascore: 48/100
Reviews: 66 user | 22 critic | 12 from Metacritic.com

An ex-office worker becomes a ventriloquist, leading to a date with his unemployment counselor; but his quirky family and a gauche female friend may thwart his new career and love life.

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Title: Dummy (2002)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Steven
...
Fangora
...
Heidi
...
Lorena
...
Fern
...
Lou
...
Michael
Mirabella Pisani ...
Bonnie
Helen Hanft ...
Mrs. Gurkel
Richmond Hoxie ...
Sorensen
...
Theater Director
Joanne Bayes ...
Actress
...
Unemployed Italian (as Lou Marini Jr.)
...
Unemployed Frottager (as Gabor Mobea)
...
Unemployed Actor
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Storyline

Steven, nearly 30 and living with his parents, sees an old Edgar Bergen movie on TV and decides to fulfill his longtime dream of becoming a ventriloquist. His beautiful unemployment counselor Lorena finds him work, but puts out a restraining order on him when he paints a thank-you note on her door. Later, this young mother agrees to date him anyway, but finds his bickering family, and his inexperience with women, daunting to a relationship. Steven's sister Heidi is a wedding planner with a drunken ex-fiancé who keeps showing up at the door. His friend Fangora is a pseudo-punk rocker whose sex does not prevent her from giving him terrible advice about women. The wedding of a Jewish girl, who wants Klezmer music and gets something unexpected, will become a turning point in everyone's lives. Written by J. Spurlin

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

A comedy about finding your voice before you lose your mind. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

21 February 2002 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Brzuchomówca  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$30,120 (USA) (12 September 2003)

Gross:

$71,305 (USA) (3 October 2003)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The store that Steven buys his dummy at is called "Halloween Adventure". It is located in New York City. See more »

Goofs

When Stephen brings home the dummy for the first time, he only opens the latch on the left side of the suitcase first. In the next shot, he opens both of the latches, even though the left would have already been unlatched. See more »

Quotes

Fannie: You can fuck me if I'm wrong!
Steven: No, That's okay.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Assistant technical advisor ... Jerry Mahoney (who is Paul Winchell's dummy) See more »

Connections

References Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) See more »

Soundtracks

"My Own Morning"
(1967)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Arranged by Paul Wallfisch
Performed by Illeana Douglas
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
excellent, excellent funny film
16 August 2004 | by (Austin) – See all my reviews

I really loved this film. I kept walking past it at the video store and finally decided we HAD to watch a movie about pursuing a dream of being a ventriloquist.

That being said, it is definitely one of my favorites of the past few years, and definitely my favorite comedy. If you're considering renting it, and you like Wes Anderson, I think this is a film you would enjoy.

The cast is spot-on and Adrien Brody as Steven is fall out of your seat AMAZING. (It doesn't hurt that he's got excellent material to work with.) His tone is so understated, so perfectly introverted as Steven, and so wry and cutting as the dummy...you truly feel that you are watching two actors playing two characters. It makes the moments the dummy is unanimated quite wild and almost eerie.

To boot, this movie is actually quite a good romantic comedy, which in my humble opinion is usually an oxymoron. Steven's pathological shyness and abuse at the hands of his own dummy really made my heart ache, even as my sides were splitting from laughter.

Its hard to believe its the director's first film. Again, all the actors (particularly Brody and Douglas, and Jovovich certainly holds her own as well) go a long way in making it work. It is disappointing to see the lack of attention this movie has gotten. I hope it becomes a video sleeper. It is definitely worth renting...more than once!


21 of 25 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Recent Posts
Milla Jovovich was *beep* hillarious! Stacey618
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR... gpritikin
Uhh If Fandora was supossed to portray the average punk they failed.... starburst67
Did anyone else love this? ericsinla
'I look both ways before crossing the street.' Indy7Solo
A bit depressing...(SPOIL ERS) Qumquat
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