Barry Munday (2010)

Barry Munday wakes up after being attacked to realize that he's missing his family jewels. To make matters worse, he learns he's facing a paternity lawsuit filed by a woman he can't remember having sex with.

Director:

Chris D'Arienzo

Writers:

Chris D'Arienzo (screenplay), Frank Turner Hollon (book)

Stars:

Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, Chloë Sevigny

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Wilson	...	Barry Munday
Judy Greer	...	Ginger Farley
Chloë Sevigny	...	Jennifer Farley
Jean Smart	...	Carol Munday
Malcolm McDowell	...	Mr. Farley
Billy Dee Williams	...	Lonnie Green
Cybill Shepherd	...	Mrs. Farley
Shea Whigham	...	Donald
Barret Swatek	...	Lucy
Missi Pyle	...	Lida Griggs
Christopher McDonald	...	Dr. Preston Edwards
Trieu Tran	...	Moe
Razaaq Adoti	...	Spiro
Matt Winston	...	Kyle Pennington
Kyle Gass	...	Jerry Sherman

Storyline

Barry: he slacks off at work, savors one-nights stands, and is getting older (young people call him "sir"). Then, he loses his testicles in an assault and gets a letter saying he's to become a father. He can't remember the woman and asks if she'll meet with him: she's Ginger, a solitary waspish woman about his age. He acknowledges paternity and wants to be a part of the pregnancy and parenthood. With reluctance and lots of put-downs, Ginger introduces him to her family, including the favored younger sister, and allows him to come with her to her doctor's. With his own father issues, a canny boss, brittle Ginger, and her vampy sister, can Barry hang in there?

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Plot Keywords:

paternity | testicles | pregnancy | doctor | letter | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Family Jewels

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stick 'N' Stone Productions, Corner Store Entertainment, Far Hills Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Barry and Ginger are having sex, Barry points out a smiley face tattoo that Ginger has on her left leg, which Ginger said she got in college. But in a previous scene, before Ginger was to give birth, there is a clear shot of her left leg and no sign of any tattoo.

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Quotes

Ginger Farley: Are you afraid of my family?
Barry Munday: Yes, each one of them individually and as a group.

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Connections

Referenced in Teen Wolf: The Tell (2011)

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Soundtracks

"I will not die"
by Jude

User Reviews

Surprisingly Delightful.

After a horrible incident at a movie theatre, Barry Munday wakes up in a hospital without his testicles. To make matters worse, a lawyer informs him that a woman claims he is the father of her unborn child.

The concept of the film makes it seem like it's going to be a lot more cruder than it actually is. Barry Munday turns out to be a rather mature film that has immature bits of comedy, which makes it come of as a sweet film with real issues it wants to discuss. Munday looses what many think is a man's manhood, but in reality, it took him losing his testicles to truly become a man. Based on the book Life is a Strange Place, Barry Munday is surprisingly delightful.

Patrick Wilson is perfectly cast as Munday, he nails the character in a role that demands him to be a womanizer, dumb, sweet, innocent and likable. Wilson gives us these little moments where the character will do something, when he isn't the main focus of the scene and it adds more depth to an already well written character. Judy Greer plays Ginger as the family outsider who is difficult to deal with. She comes off a a mature 12 year old. Her parents are played by seasoned actors Cybill Shepherd and Malcolm McDowell, both small roles but they do leave an impression. Jean Smart is the more memorable parent, she plays Carol Munday, Barry's mother. Do I even need to mention Lando Calrissian and the fact that he drives a DeLorean?

There are moments are pure hilarity, like when Munday accidentally calls out his child's name during sex, but there are moments of charm and delight, like the expression on his face when the child is born. His eagerness to be a part of the child's life is admirable, he's lost the one thing that will give him a child and now he discovers that he is possibly the father of one? That's enough of a sign for him to want to be a father that he accepts it without having a paternity test. But then the question arises, is he really the father?

Barry Munday is not a flat out comedy, it's more character driven. Munday, played excellently by Wilson, is a character that sells the film. If you can't connect to him, the movie might falls apart for you. I thought Wilson did an excellent job in this role and it's my favourite performance from him thus far.