Love on the Side (2004)

Director:

Vic Sarin

Writer:

Brigitte Talevski (writer)

Release Date:

28 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Comedy

Plot:

A small-town waitress vies with a sassy city slicker for the attention of the town's most eligible bachelor.

Plot Keywords:

Waitress | Diner | Black Bra And Panties | Love | Nude Drawing

Cast

Marnie Alton	...	Verline
Peter Benson	...	Marquee Man
Kee Chan	...	Stoney
Jonathan Cherry	...	Chuck Stuckley
Len Doncheff	...	Len
Aaron Grain	...	Chip Owens
Jesse Moss	...	Dwayne
Alvin Sanders	...	Walt
Monika Schnarre	...	Linda Avery
Marla Sokoloff	...	Eve Stuckley
Jennifer Tilly	...	Alma Kerns
Dave Thomas	...	Red
Frank C. Turner	...	Wilbur
Barry Watson	...	Jeff Sweeney
Matthew Safran	...	Radio Announcer (voice)

Also Known As:

Deluxe Combo Platter (Canada: English title)
Love on the Side (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual references and brief nudity.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:12 | USA:R | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Deluxe Combo Films Inc.

Trivia:

Premiering at the Vancouver International Film Festival under the Canadian Images Program.

Goofs:

Continuity: When we first see Eve go to work after seeing the pig look at her, outside she is bare-legged apart from socks. As soon as she goes through the door she has jeans on.

Quotes:

Wilbur: You see, the right woman will always make you feel like a good man. It's not magic, but it feels that way.

Movie Connections:

References "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)

Soundtrack:

Fly

This film is a little jewel

I chose this film from Blockbuster because it said on the label "a must-see for all fans of 'Bridget Jones Diary'". My 16 year old daughter had just seen Bridget Jones' diary and said she wanted a film just like that, so I chose this. I expected the worst and, for once, I was real pleasantly surprised. This film has a very intelligent script, that does a lovely job of playing with the stereotypes. It has the usual characters found in small-town America (actually Canada, this one): lovable waitress, football star jock, sweet young teenager with lifelong crush on said jock. But then it stirs these around in unexpected ways: the outsider who comes into break the small town harmony has, shall we say, rather surprising characteristics; lovable waitress is actually deeply in love with a mortuary worker; the football jock runs a motel, and so on. There is some lovely thoughtful direction here too: one shot, of the umbrellas at a funeral, is worthy of Chabrol, and the film is cunningly punctuated by black and white shots of the changing titles at the local movie house, just slightly edging the film to the surreal (and, there is a nice joke on pork belly investments too). It is superbly acted, in a relaxed and understated way. Overall, a modest, unassuming, but veritable delight, that kept us all giggling and intrigued throughout. It is worth far more than the 5.4 it currently rates. It puts to shame many a movie made with far more money and with big name stars (eg, the tiresome Bridget Jones films). Go find it and watch it.