Surviving Eden (2004)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Greg Pritikin

Writers:

Greg Pritikin (writer)
Joanne Storkan (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A documentary crew follows the rise and demise of the winner of a reality show

Plot:

A documentary crew captures the capitalistic trappings a reality show winner falls into during his short-lived stint with fame and fortune. |

Plot Keywords:

Fictional Reality Show | Nun

Cast

Michael Panes	...	Dennis Flotchky
Cheri Oteri	...	Maria Villanova
Jane Lynch	...	Maude Silver
Sam Robards	...	Gary Gold
Savannah Haske	...	Sister Agnes O'Malley
Peter Dinklage	...	Sterno
Billy Nash	...	Hotel security
Jackie Katzman	...	Devon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kentaro Abe	...	Kendo
Danny Alexander	...	Raffi
Jason Batchko	...	Jason
Ellie Boucher	...	Waitress
Craig Braun	...	Contestant #3
Lisa Deane	...	Carol
Illeana Douglas	...	Cameo
Natasha Elliott	...	Brisbee Receptionist
Conchata Ferrell	...	Rosemary Flotchky
Brian Gattas	...	Brisbee
Jeremy Guskin	...	Indian Larry
Robert Harvey	...	Murray (as Bob Harvey)
Michael Irpino	...	Jaime
John Landis	...	Doctor Levine
Tim Lane	...	Keith Johnson
Allan Loeb	...	Kurt Lowry
Robyn Moran	...	Stalker
Erick Nathan	...	Reality TV Show Director
Kestrin Pantera	...	Reporter #1
Chase Polan	...	Party Girl
George Poulos	...	Fancy Hotel Manager
Scott Ramp	...	Silver & Gold Associate Producer
Carrie Reeves	...	Jenny Hurlington
Seth Resnik	...	Hollywood Producer
Tim Rhoze	...	Reporter #3
Gary Rosen	...	Larry
Gary Rosen	...	Larry
Deep Roy	...	Indian Mo
Josh Rubenstein	...	Roving Reporter
Jolene Rust	...	Contestant #2
Michael Shyers	...	Regular Hotel Manager
Nick Souza	...	Restaurant Patron
Shana Stein	...	Marie
Allison Threadgold	...	Concierge
Christina Venuti	...	Charlotte
Morgan Vukovic	...	Francine
Elizabeth Warner	...	Reporter #2
Ken Weiler	...	Joshua Ladd
PaSean Wilson	...	Contestant #1
Pauline Yasuda	...	Fan

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cineville

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Wonderfully funny

Surviving Eden just made a surprise appearance at the South By Southwest film festival, and it is a terrific, hilarious indictment of modern-day reality TV and the 15-minute celebrities it creates and spits out (William Hung, are you listening?). The audience really delivered the cheers at the end credits.

Writer/director Greg Pritican has taken the absurd mockumentary styles of Woody Allen's "Take the Money and Run," mixed in an homage to Peter Sellers films, notably "Being There" and the Clouseau/Cato dynamic - and created a film that is outrageous, funny, and important as well.

Michael Panes stars as Dennis, a clumsy, obese loser brought up in a white-trash environment by obese mom Conchata Ferrell. Dennis is entered into a reality-TV 'Eden' competition by his best buddy, Sterno, played masterfully by Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent). Pritican has a family member who works on "Survival," so there is definitely a good-natured zing being delivered here as the contestents are tossed from Eden.

Jane Lynch shines as a tell-it-like-it-is co-executive producer with a nose for coke, Savannah Haske is a nun as you've never known, and SNL's Cheri Oteri is terrific as a take-no-prisoners hanger-on.

And there is the humor of how Dennis' fame affects the lifestyles of those close to him, such as his pet pig.

The film as presented in the festival was still unfinished, and some great music choices may not make the final cut. I recommend you see it as soon as it comes out. The big screen will help - there are many comic touches in every frame that should be taken in.

9.5/10