(USA, 2013, 92 min)
Charles Petunia, a young gay man clinging to the idea that celibacy is the best way to go through life, stands at the center of the the Petunia family which has a storied history of avoiding real feelings: Felicia the mother (Christine Lahti) is a therapist who desperately needs a shrink of her own; dad, Percy, (David Rasche) hides erectile dysfunction under an oblivious and disaffected non-personality; and brothers Michael (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Adrian (Jimmy Heck) are hiding infidelity and sex addiction, respectively. Throw in mean NYC princess Vivian (Thora Birch) for a sister-in-law, and you have Charlie’s biggest problem: he has one crazy family.
But then a wedding, as weddings often do, provides a chance encounter with George McDougal (Michael Urie), a guy for whom Charlie is willing to break his no-sex vow. Charlie pursues his passion for George with the obsessive vigor of, well of a young man who has gone without sex for a long time, but then a big secret reveals itself that adds complication to the new dating relationship: George is married to a woman.
Great acting runs throughout this comedy full of super quirky, yet highly sympathetic characters.
Director ASHTON CHRISTIAN
Writers ASHTON CHRISTION,
THERESA BENNETT
Editor SCOTT MARTIN
Cinematographer AUSTIN F. SCHMIDT
Music STEVE BOOKE
(USA, 2000, 107 min)
College professor and author Grady Tripp (Douglas) has been working on the follow-up to his acclaimed first novel for seven years, and counting. His wife's just left him, and he's having an affair with the chancellor of his college (Frances McDormand), who's also the wife of a colleague. He's also developed a complex about one of his students (Tobey Maguire), a suicidal undergraduate and literary wunderkind. Add to the mix Tripp's rambunctious gay book editor played in a brilliant turn by Robert Downey, Jr. and you have one of the best American comedies of recent decades that is as slapstick as it is smart. All the stars in this campus farce/adventure gives one of the best performances of their careers.
Director CURTIS HANSEN
Writer STEVE CLOVES (screenplay), MICHAEL CHABON (novel)
Editor DEDE ALLEN
Cinematographer DANTE SPINOTTI
Music CHRISTOPHER YOUNG
