Matt Shea
RubySoho
Morgan Bell
Cibbuano
David O'Connell
Mountain Fog
New In Town
July 1st 2009 06:53
What would be the worst nightmare for a Miami dwelling, corporate ladder climbing, big city lifestyle obsessed young executive? Probably it is being sent to live in an isolated country township, while overseeing staff cutbacks at the local factory.
It doesn’t immediately sound like a recipe for humour, however, the support cast who populate this township provide most of the laughs, as they battle yet another attempt to downsize their factory. These folks are frozen in time, place and attitude!
Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger) is a career obsessed junior executive who gets the job no one wanted; to live in an isolated and snowbound small township, to oversee the automation of the locals main source of employment, the food factory. Along the way, as she gathers enemies amongst the kooky townsfolk, she falls in love with the local union rep, Ted Mitchell (played by the still stunningly handsome Harry Connick jnr).
After much angst, in trying to keep the workforce on side by becoming a ‘friend’ with some of the local key players, all to no avail, Hill becomes her company’s biggest problem, as her loyalties and objectives change, leaving her, and the townsfolk, with the task to create a win for all, in no time at all.
Such is the lot of Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger), who has to deal with kooky, oddball town folk, (reminiscent of those folks in Fargo), some of whom try their hardest to please, like her secretary, Blanche Gunderson (Siobhan Fallon Hogan), who is so desperate for Hill’s approval, she takes Hill’s photo as Hill drives to her new bolthole, then tries to entertain Hill with her mini scrapbook, full of photos of her dead pets, complete with appalling detail of their decline, and all this within minutes of meeting her.
The part of Blanche Gunderson, (Siobhan Fallon Hogan), is one of the kookier and more endearing characters, in this gently entertaining film. In fact, it is one of those rarer films where the supports, and bit part roles, tend to make the film a success, instead of the stars.
Both Zellweger and Harry Connick jnr are competent, but do not shine, as their love interest does seem to appear more perfunctory, than passionate. However, it is the stars’ telegraphed, over-cooked attempts at slapstick, which momentarily detract from the general feel good reality of the film. Mercifully, the director Jonas Elmer has not flooded the film with his poor attempts at slapstick, which should appear spontaneous, unexpected and believable.
The homespun good nature and deadpan delivery of the support cast, such as J.K.Simmons’ performance as the frosty foreman Stu Kopenhafer, Nancy Drake as the imperious waitress, Frances Conroy as Trudy Van Uuden and especially Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Blanche Gunderson, among others, all combine to create an enjoyable film.
Good for a ‘snuggle in’ with your partner or pals.
Run: 96mins
Production by: Gold Circle Films and The Safran Company
Australian Distributor: ICON
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick jnr
Writers: Kenneth Rance and C. Jay Cox
It doesn’t immediately sound like a recipe for humour, however, the support cast who populate this township provide most of the laughs, as they battle yet another attempt to downsize their factory. These folks are frozen in time, place and attitude!
Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger) is a career obsessed junior executive who gets the job no one wanted; to live in an isolated and snowbound small township, to oversee the automation of the locals main source of employment, the food factory. Along the way, as she gathers enemies amongst the kooky townsfolk, she falls in love with the local union rep, Ted Mitchell (played by the still stunningly handsome Harry Connick jnr).
(L) Dan Augusta as Billy and (R) Wayne Nicklas as Harve Gunderson (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)
After much angst, in trying to keep the workforce on side by becoming a ‘friend’ with some of the local key players, all to no avail, Hill becomes her company’s biggest problem, as her loyalties and objectives change, leaving her, and the townsfolk, with the task to create a win for all, in no time at all.
Renée Zellweger as Lucy Hill (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)
Such is the lot of Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger), who has to deal with kooky, oddball town folk, (reminiscent of those folks in Fargo), some of whom try their hardest to please, like her secretary, Blanche Gunderson (Siobhan Fallon Hogan), who is so desperate for Hill’s approval, she takes Hill’s photo as Hill drives to her new bolthole, then tries to entertain Hill with her mini scrapbook, full of photos of her dead pets, complete with appalling detail of their decline, and all this within minutes of meeting her.
Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Blanche Gunderson (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)
The part of Blanche Gunderson, (Siobhan Fallon Hogan), is one of the kookier and more endearing characters, in this gently entertaining film. In fact, it is one of those rarer films where the supports, and bit part roles, tend to make the film a success, instead of the stars.
(back of) Renée Zellweger as LUCY HILL and Harry Connick jnr. as Ted Mitchell. (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)
Both Zellweger and Harry Connick jnr are competent, but do not shine, as their love interest does seem to appear more perfunctory, than passionate. However, it is the stars’ telegraphed, over-cooked attempts at slapstick, which momentarily detract from the general feel good reality of the film. Mercifully, the director Jonas Elmer has not flooded the film with his poor attempts at slapstick, which should appear spontaneous, unexpected and believable.
J.K. Simmons as Stu Kopenhafer (centre) (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)
The homespun good nature and deadpan delivery of the support cast, such as J.K.Simmons’ performance as the frosty foreman Stu Kopenhafer, Nancy Drake as the imperious waitress, Frances Conroy as Trudy Van Uuden and especially Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Blanche Gunderson, among others, all combine to create an enjoyable film.
Good for a ‘snuggle in’ with your partner or pals.
Run: 96mins
Production by: Gold Circle Films and The Safran Company
Australian Distributor: ICON
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick jnr
Writers: Kenneth Rance and C. Jay Cox
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Comment by Mountain Fog
fog
Comment by Mountain Fog
yes I do too...Fargo was great. Americans seem to have cornered the market on kooky, especially the independant makers.
cheers
fog
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
im really not sure, maybe you should send Cibbuano and/or Jon an email just to check whether it was on purpose or an error
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
How are you? Your review is fantastic, you definitely have a film flair!
I've never heard of this film, it sounds like it's good one when in the mood for something easy to watch. Sometimes I don't find Harry CJ's performance that convincing I must say so that might put me off but it sounds quite off-beat and quirky and I like that.
Looking forward to reading more of your stuff!!
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
The quirky aspect had me hooked, but for this:
which is a pet hate, but sounds worth having a look at!
Good post!
Michaelie
Comment by Mountain Fog
Trace de Face and Michaelie!!
Been sooo long, my pooter is still up the creek, but creeeping along momentarily.
tanx for the comments, I must drop in to your blogs too.
have not been around, but owe Icon two reviews, so will do something about that next two days.
cheery cheers
fog