Out at the Wedding Review

Every once in a while you come across such a gem of an item you just have to tell people about it. This happened to me about two weeks ago. I saw a wonderfully warm independent film that is a do-not-miss. The Goff-Kellam Production “Out at the Wedding”.

I chanced across it on the LOGO channel one night and after learning the magic of DVR I have now watched it about fifty times. I've got the DVD on the way. (You know how I love the extras) What's even better than finding a great movie is discovering an even better actor. The entire cast of this film was excellent. But there was one particular stand out. You all know who I'm talking about. We, movie lovers, all have one. Some of us (ahem) several. It's that person that whenever they are in a scene you simply can't take your eyes off of them. Whether they have any dialogue or not. You just can't take your eyes off of them. And when they aren't on screen you're waiting for the next time they are.

This film has one of those and her name is Cathy DeBuono. She was excellent. And I use that word because I had a really hard time finding the words to describe her. She made Risa one of the most endearing characters I have ever seen in a movie. Truly. The subtleties of her performance are what made it incredible. Expressive eyes, a hint of movement, the taking of a breathe, a glance over the shoulder. It was all very impressive. And of course it made me want to find out more about what makes Cathy DeBuono. “I'm not flirting, I'm talking about landing gear.” HAHAHAHA

So I went searching on the net. And boy, did I find a lot. I realized I actually had some of her earlier work. A couple of short films she did on “Girls on Film” and even some 'Deep Space Nine”.
Check it out...

http://cathydebuono.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0213583/

I also came across her vlog “What's Your Problem?” Apparently in her spare time she decided to get a masters in clinical psychology. (I have to imagine that this helps in her acting career.) “WYP” is featured on www.shewired.com. Cathy sits in her living room with various guests and advises on everything from dating, to coming out, to where to take your animals for care. It's clever, intelligent, and incredibly humorous. (She has no idea how much she has saved me on counseling fees. :)

Now, back to the movie, this is the easiest way to sum it up. Here is the synopsis...

A comedy cocktail with a splash of southern comfort and a twist.

Ever have an identity crisis? Tell a little white lie here and there, just to make everyone happy? Well, Alex Houston has got you beat, hands down. After telling her fiancé, Dana, that her entire family is dead, Manhattanite Alex whisks off to her childhood home in South Carolina to serve as bridesmaid at her high-maintenance, estranged sister Jeannie's wedding. As she tries not to steal Jeannie's thunder by telling her family that a) she's engaged, and b) the man she's going to marry is a Jewish African American, things get a little mixed up. For starters, Alex's sharp-tongued, mischievous best friend Jonathan unwittingly starts a rumor at the wedding that Alex is gay and Dana is a woman. When her family reacts in a surprisingly supportive way, Alex decides to go with it. It's easier than telling the truth, right? But when Alex and Jonathan decide to hire sexy lesbian Risa to act as her lover when Jeannie comes to visit Alex in New York, things really start to get out of hand. Director Lee Friedlander follows up her award-winning 2004 film "Girl Play" with this witty, farcical romp that explores the sometimes comically bumbling way in which we come out to the people we love - whether we're gay or straight. As she becomes increasingly entangled in her web of lies, Alex struggles to come to terms with her fiancé, her family and most of all herself along the way.

It's a fun, adventurous, romantic trip through crazyland. With some great one-liners and a very well oiled cast. It was nice to see Mike Farrell again. My Mom always had a crush on BJ Honeycutt. ;) Now she has a crush on Cathy. I can't tell you how weird that is. If you can't tell I highly recommend seeing this. Hell, if I were you I'd just buy the DVD. This one is definitely worth the return trip. You can buy it on Amazon or Logo.

I have to also state that my favorite scene is where Risa and Jeannie have an entire conversation about the progression of their relationship using only one word. Brilliant. Positively brilliant.

And please, go check out Cathy. As well as her vlog, she's got a great new online series with the unfathomably awesome Jill Bennett called “We Have To Stop...Now”. But I'm going to save that for another blog. There's so much to say about it, I don't have the space here. Needless to say, don't miss this as well.

http://www.jillbennett.com/

Two tears in a bucket...motherfu...well, you know,

Leigh