Gray Matters
2.5 Stars
Directed by: Sue Kramer
Starring: Heather Graham, Tom Cavanagh
R, 96 min.
It is not often that a first-time writer/director snags big name talent like Alan Cumming, Sissy Spacek and Heather Graham for an offbeat romantic comedy about coming out. But Sue Kramer has managed to make a moderately appealing film with a low budget and a highly recognizable cast. Tom Cavanagh and Graham play close-knit brother and sister Sam and Gray, who both become enamored with Charlie (played by Bridget Moynahan). Sam marries Charlie, but Gray realizes that she is in love her as well and struggles to come to grips with her newly realized sexuality.
The leads deliver mediocre performances: Cavanagh can't seem to act like anything but impish and goofy, while Graham just plain can't act. The peripheral cast is superb though and thankfully picks up the slack. Cumming shines as a friendly cab driver, while The L Word's Rachel Shelly is perfect in her role as a rich client of Gray's advertising firm. Molly Shannon is the true star though, stealing the show as the hilarious and completely melodramatic best friend.
While the film is enjoyable, it drags at times. Kramer puts New York and old movies on a pedestal, and while sentimentality and nostalgia are nice, there are far too many dance numbers for a nonmusical. Moreover, the dialogue is overly ambitious; the film's witticisms, references and wacky quirks are unrealistic and hard to follow. While the movie does do a good job of reflecting the ambivalence and uncertainty of coming out, it is almost too obvious. Kramer wants her audience to be "who you are," but the film lacks the subtlety to make this lesson truly meaningful.
