05/29/06 Winter Passing

Winter Passing (2005), directed by Adam Rapp

watched solo; DVD rental (Netflix) @ home

Today started off on such a happy note, as we went to celebrate my "adopted" (my best friends' daughter) niece's 2nd birthday party...decorated with princess jewelry and bubble-makers. So, after all the youthful joy was worn down from sugar-rushes and an hour car-ride home...I went the opposite route with today's film choice, one of adult melancholy. Not a premeditated juxtaposition, just what happened to be in the rental queue. Written and directed by newcomer Adam Rapp (brother of that dorky blonde dude from "Dazed And Confused"), this also marks sort of a first leading role for one of my new favorite actresses Zooey Deschanel. Zooey plays aspiring actress Reese who has run away from her dysfunctional family drama in Michigan for years to experience the "life" of New York City, which for her includes run-down apartments, random sexual encounters, drugs & booze, and scraping by for a living. After one of her stage shows lets out, she is approached by a book editor who is willing to purchase the rights to the literary love letters between Reese's parents (both of whom are celebrated novelists, and her mother having recently died) for a small fortune. Jumping at the chance to earn some money, Reese heads home on an unwelcoming return to her childhood. Coming home to the house she grew up in, she must face the demons of her mother's death, her father Don's reclusive manner as he stows away in the garage, and two new house-guests in the form of her father's ex-grad student Shelley and struggling Christian rocker Corbit. Ed Harris is great as the tormented novelist father who never truly gave his daughter the attention and love that she needed. Will Ferrell is always hilarious, even when he's playing down the tone in a melodrama; as he here demonstrates awkward romantic gestures to Reese and adoration for Don. The scene with them practicing golf in the upstairs bedroom devoid of furniture (which is now in the front lawn) using trash can lids and cather's gear for protection is priceless. It's a cathartic journey for all the characters, as they tend to learn the hard way that they need each other to grieve and grow properly. Another in a long line of stories with disenchanted child-grown-up to confront family demons, only to strengthen the family bond and gain personal atonement & direction. You know, kind of like life after college.

4 out of 5 stars