As there is very little quality programing on television these days, I am a frequent DVD renter.
And conveniently, we have the "Red Box" DVD vending machines in just about every supermarket in the NJ/NY area. For just $1, you can take home the movie of your choice. As I see most of the popular blockbusters on the big screen, this gives me an opportunity to view lesser known independent films, or films that just flew under my radar... which brings us to today's blog...
The Best and the Brightest: Strong actors, but the storyline/plot left me a bit confused. Wife pressures husband to move from Delaware to NYC. She "wants a second shot at her dream." We never get to find out what that dream is. Did she once upon a time want to be an actor? dancer? writer? We never know.
All we know is that she's convinced that her dreams will eventually come true if she uproots her family to NYC and gets her daughter enrolled in an elitist ivy league school. But as their humble Delaware background isn't quite impressive enough to wow any of the admission boards- they hire an admissions coach to help them get a leg up on the competition. Amy Sedaris was very charming and funny as the coach- her comedic acting is always a treat. In one scene the wife tells the coach that she once again "wants one last shot at her dream" and that she "kind of settled" for her husband- who's a mild-mannered computer programmer expertly played by Neil Patrick Harris. It was clearly the intent for you to root for the wife and somehow feel sorry for her- I just found her character to be so whiny and unlikeable. You've got a great husband who loves you and a beautiful child- but you're life isn't exciting enough. Poor you. And you are living in a basement apartment so where are you going to come up with the tuition money? Rather than the wife work on herself and her work- she insists that the key to future happiness is to get the child in an elitist private school. Her poor little girl is gonna need some serious therapy when she grows up. Perhaps the husband should file for divorce and marry me! Sorry, my little Neil Patrick Harris fantasy...
Just when I ready to turn off the DVD player- the sub plot is revealed....
The coach convinces the husband to lie and say that he is a poet with a book about to be published.
But since the husband hasn't written a poem since high school, he must scramble to come up with some creative prose, but simply can't. Then we meet the husband's friend Clark, played by Peter Serafinowicz, a sex-crazed slacker who spends most of his time playing video games and living in his rich father's brownstone. For entertainment, he frequents sex clubs. In a very sit-com style, Clark's x-rated text message are suddenly passed off as the husband's poetry. A bit low-brow, but funny none-the-less. The fun begins- The refined head mistress of the elite private school calls the work "Brilliant!" and "Extraordinary!" Book clubs are formed, and the NY Elite world and the underground sex world collide. I enjoyed this part of the film and loved how it poked fun at the private school system and the NY elite culture. Although, I must admit that this sub-plot was a bit too much of a diversion from the beginning story line. It lacked continuity. Then again, I really didn't mind the story being moved away from the unlikable wife and her narcissistic expectations.
Essentially, the film was choppy. So the chopped salad I ate right afterwards was fitting. (groan!)
During this confusing film, I did squeeze out a chuckle or two, so I guess you could say my $1 was well spent.
See you next time!
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