Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Wes Bentley | ... | Evan | |
Winona Ryder | ... | Charlotte | |
Ray Romano | ... | Abel | |
Gina Hecht | ... | Hilde | |
A.J. Trauth | ... | Greg | |
Katherine Boecher | ... | Clara | |
John Billingsley | ... | Brady | |
Alison Moir | ... | Susan | |
![]() |
Mickey Mickey | ... | Robin (as Mickey Ewan) |
Kurt Caceres | ... | Sammy | |
Allan Rich | ... | Francis | |
Richard Riehle | ... | Man at Gorge | |
Michael Cornacchia | ... | Client | |
Ivar Brogger | ... | Priest | |
![]() |
Jules Adrianna Sorensen | ... | House of Pies Waitress |
Evan keeps to himself, almost without affect. He's 30, a former foster child, living alone, writing suicide notes for people. He attends a client's funeral and meets Charlotte, the client's sister. She pursues Evan; he's silent about his real work and invents a friendship with the brother. About the same time, Evan starts working with Abel, a new client, a composer of phone-waiting music who's depressed. Evan confides in Abel about Charlotte as she begins to draw him out. Crises await the self-contained Evan: his relationship with Charlotte is based on a lie, and his incipient friendship with Abel is headed toward suicide. Are more dead ends ahead? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
If you just want the same old romantic comedy, this movie is not for you. It's a bit dark, a bit weird, but totally entertaining. Fresh, surprising and not formulaic. This movie definitely has a bit of everything - some odd comic relief and some touching moments and some romance and even a few things to get you thinking.
I loved Wes Bentley in American Beauty and I rented this movie just for him. He did not disappoint - he's a little off-kilter, but in the best possible way. Perfect in the role of Evan - strange but endearing.
Winona Ryder, on the other hand, was miscast as Charlotte. I like her and think she's very talented, and I didn't think she ruined the movie. But she wasn't quite right either, and I think this would have worked even better than it did with someone else in her role.
But that's a minor complaint. If you're wondering whether to see this, go for it. You'll be glad that you did. I certainly was.