Take 4: State-by-State

Garden State (2004)

The Basics: A drama/comedy/romance starring Zach Braff, Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard; Rated R for language, drug use and a scene of sexuality.

In the Beginning…: After having been out-of-touch with his family for several years, living in Los Angeles as a semi-successful actor (and waiter), Andrew Largeman returns home to New Jersey for his mother’s funeral.

The Plot Thickens: Andrew’s return home re-awakens many things inside of him, and inspires him to take a sabbatical from the emotion-suppressing medication that he has been on since his youth. From reuniting with old hometown friends and meeting a young woman who proves to be a beacon of light in the dreary weather of the Garden State…to finally confronting his dad on decades-old issues…Andrew’s trip home proves to be more of an eye-opener than he ever anticipated.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Fingerprints; Boyfriend/Girlfriend Relationship; Animal in Cast Credits; Hole; Cemetery

And I Quote: Andrew: “We're not playing Spin the Bottle; how old are we? More importantly, how old are they?” Jesse: “Oh, they're all legal. I think...”

Curt’s Take: Worth Considering – I remember all the buzz that this independent film generated when it came out several years ago. I also had quite a few friends who were absolutely fascinated by it, so I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to catch it. I wasn’t as enthralled by it as others seemed to be, though…but it was still pretty good as far as dramas go (I wouldn’t consider it a comedy, exactly). So if you’re looking for a decent low-key film with good writing (and if you can overlook Natalie Portman’s stilted acting), this isn’t a bad choice.

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Scotland, PA (2001)

The Basics: A comedy/crime film (based on Williams Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth), starring James LeGros, Maura Tierney and Christopher Walken; Rated R for language, some nudity, drug content and brief violence

In the Beginning…: Joe “Mac” McBeth and his wife Pat work alongside each other in a small-town hamburger stand, Duncan’s Café. But Pat has aspirations beyond being a simple waitress and wants more for her slacker husband than being a burger flipper for the rest of this life.

The Plot Thickens: Pat concocts a plan that will bring her and her husband a fair bit more money and power in the small town of Scotland, PA…but it involves doing something about Norm Duncan, their boss. And, of course, getting away with it…which the local law enforcement, Lieutenant McDuff, doesn’t make easy.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: 1970s; Shakespeare’s Macbeth; Family Business; Fast Food Restaurant

And I Quote: Pat: “We’re not bad people, Mac…just underachievers who have to make up for lost time.”

Curt’s Take: Must See – First off, I’m a big fan of creative/modern takes on classic works…especially Shakespeare. Plus, I love Maura Tierney and Christopher Walken. I’m guessing I would have enjoyed it even more if I’d ever read Macbeth. It’s set in 1970’s rural Pennsylvania, among rednecks and trailer parks, has a rockin’ 70’s soundtrack, and on top of all that, it was just very damn funny. Check it out.

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The OH in Ohio (2006)

The Basics: A comedy/drama/romance starring Parkey Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny DeVito and Mischa Barton; Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug use

In the Beginning…: Priscilla Chase is a rising star in her career, VP of a company responsible for bringing new business to the city of Cleveland. Unfortunately, however, she isn’t as successful at having a fulfilling sex life with her husband, Jack.

The Plot Thickens: Priscilla begins to explore ways to get over her “dysfunction,” and ends up causing a deeper rift in her marriage. But will their time apart from each other give Priscilla and Jack new-found appreciation for what they have…or will it open their eyes more to what they’ve been missing?

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Vibrating Cell Phone; Love Rectangle; Self-Help Group; Pot Smoking

And I Quote: Coach Popovitch: “Me and wifey... we incorporate a lot of technology in our marital relations.” Jack Chase: “I'm uncomfortable now.”

Curt’s Take: Don’t Bother – I’m a pretty big fan of Parker Posey, from her improv skills in Best of Show (and other Christopher Guest movies) to her role in Scream 3, I think she’s just damn hilarious. But not in this. And the same goes for Paul Rudd…normally I think he’s pretty frickin’ funny. But again…if you don’t have a decent story and script, your actors are screwed, no matter how talented they are. For me…it just didn’t feel at all original. You can go ahead and skip this one.

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Eerie, Indiana: Compendium #1 (1991)

The Basics: Three episodes of a sci-fi/family television series, starring Omri Katz and Justin Shenkarow (nineteen episodes were produced in total, but only three appear on this DVD)

In the Beginning…: Marshall Teller and his family move to the small town of Eerie, Indiana (population 16,661) when his dad gets a job as an engineer at a local corporation.

The Plot Thickens: Marshall quickly becomes convinced that Eerie is “center of weirdness for the universe,” where the neighbor looks like Elvis, dental headgear picks up the thoughts of the local dog population (who happen to be planning a revolt) and Daylight Savings Time holds a special trap for those who forget to set their clocks back an hour…

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Small Town; Children; Kids and Family

And I Quote: Marshall Teller: “My name is Marshall Teller. Not too long ago, I was living in New Jersey, just across the river from New York City. It was crowded, polluted, and full of crime. I loved it. But my parents wanted a better life for my sister and me. So we moved to a place so wholesome, so squeaky clean, you could only find it on TV. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, my new hometown looks normal enough, but look again. What's wrong with this picture? The American Dream come true, right? Wrong. Nobody believes me, but this is the center of weirdness for the entire planet: Eerie, Indiana. My home, sweet home. Still don't believe me? You will.

Curt’s Take: Worth Considering – Okay, I rented this one because I remember watching it back in high school and I really liked the quirky concept at the time. Looking back on it now, the idea and the tone reminds me a lot of current-day shows like Pushing Daisies and Eureka. I actually think a similar show might be pretty successful on television today. Anyway, the three episodes on this disc are fun, go by pretty quickly, and leave you wanting a little bit more (knowing there are sixteen more episodes floating around out there). So give this one a shot…if you grew up in a small town like I did, or if you were a big fan of The Goonies while growing up, you will probably find this to be a fun ride.