Review: “Catch and Release”
Posted on January 29, 2007 @ 9:19 am
A quick synopsis: days before their wedding, Gray Wheeler’s fiancé Grady dies. With nowhere to go, Gray moves in with Grady’s former roommates, struggling to put the pieces of her life back together while she deals with the unexpected fallout from Grady’s death. The loose narrative that follows is reminiscent of a post-Generation X Reality Bites, but an uneven script ultimately prevents Catch and Release from capitalizing on its quirky appeal.
Jennifer Garner’s performance as Gray is a bit awkward, consisting largely of an alternating series of pouts and grimaces (leading the Chicago Reader’s Andrea Gronvall to credit Garner with “the hardest working eyebrows in show business”). Nevertheless, by avoiding the cliché of making Gray too sweet and too cute and too perfect, she ends up a surprisingly endearing character by the end of the film.
Meanwhile, Clerks director Kevin Smith nearly steals the show as Sam, one of Grady’s best friends and Gray’s roommate following her fiancé’s death. Smith shows surprising emotional range in the role, and provides most of the film’s big laughs (one suspects he massaged his dialogue a bit, considering how reminiscent it is of his own style). Juliette Lewis also shines as Maureen, a New Age massage therapist who arrives on the scene to add an unexpected twist to the proceedings.
The trailers would have you believe that Catch and Release is a romantic comedy, but at the end of the day, it’s neither terribly romantic nor comedic. Moreover, the storyline meanders, and the characters’ motivations are often unclear. Nevertheless, writer/director Susannah Grant deserves credit for at least going off the beaten path and trying something different. It’s not always successful, but it’s far more appealing than yet another by-the-numbers romantic comedy.
The verdict: C+
Posted by Jess | Filed Under Pop Culture |
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I think the + is a bit generous. I would have maybe given it C- but I didn’t hate it. I agree with you: Kevin Smith is a wonder in this and that’s why he’s one of my future husbands to be. I know some people are wondering why in the world he’d take a role in something like this but I for one am glad otherwise I’d be forced to give this movie a G, for “Gee, why in the world did I spend $9 on this??”
I’m pretty sure that I’ll never see this, although the odds are slightly better if it’s not a “another by-the-numbers romantic comedy.” I’m still having nightmares about Failure to Launch, possibly the worst movie ever.
Have you seen Kevin Smith filling in on Ebert & Roper at all? I thought he was really good. Not Aisha Tyler good, but probably the best non-hot female guest reviewer.
Er, I didn’t mean to suggest Kevin Smith is female. You know what I mean.
Thanks for the review. Definitely a second run theater choice (eh, it’s only $1.50).
I can see the header now. Who knows? My computer is strange.
I thought this one looked like a good rental! Glad I got a review, before using my free movie passes. I’m waiting on something horrific and cheesy like The Hills Have Eyes 2.