I'm Reed Fish

Reed Fish is, in my opinion, the small quirky type of indie films that the U.S. does well, and which unfortunately are rarely seen outside of America.

The film doesn't pretend to be anything except what it is, a small romantic comedy with some life affirming moments and a few quirks. Indeed, the plot quirks (without giving away too much) overshadow what was a simple film up to the end. I had the feeling that to some extent the writers didn't know how to finish their own story, and also wanted something to distinguish the film. Having said all of that, I liked the film. It wasn't pretentious and had its heart in the right place. Its not going to make you think, or win an Oscar, but its a worthwhile hour and a half.

I watched this movie via Pay Per View on cable with my daughter last night. Having watched three other movies this weekend, I think I liked this one the best. Reed shows a nearly idyllic view of life in a small town in the summertime, where all the inhabitants are nice folk, and the weather is perfect every day.

This movie is really about that moment when you are 20-ish and you really make the big decisions that can determine what the rest of your life will be like. Since the writer put his own real name in the title of the movie, it isn't hard to imagine that this is his story.

Yes, this is not the most exciting movie ever, but the main character was very likable, the humor was amusing and the girls very pretty.

Compared to "Princess Diaries 2", another PG movie I saw this weekend, "I'm Reed Fish" was easily the more enjoyable film.

This film has more in common with a Lifetime cable film than a standard theatrical release. The small budget and short shooting schedule show.

The story seems padded and bogs down at times. The incident that causes the rift that is the backbone of the script comes out of left field and is not very believable even in the context of the film. There must be a reason why the goofy guy gets two hot babes to fall for him; just don't ask me what it is. The script doesn't flesh it out and it becomes merely a plot point. Reed Fish's "demons" are mentioned but are only presented in a superficially way.

In my opinion, more time should have been spent in humanizing the main characters and less time on the zorse. Still, the "shaggy dog" part of the script was refreshing and added a depth to an otherwise familiar story.

The actors are all type cast, but very good at what they do. Alexis Bledel and Schuyer Fisk are adorably amazing. Jay Baruchel once again does an nice job as a schlub. DJ Qualls, AJ Cook and Katey Sagal have their moments.

Forget the hype. It is not a sexy laugh riot. But if you're looking to spend 93 minutes with a pleasant cast and a flawed (but agreeable) script, "I'm Reed Fish" is a good place to visit.

Reed Fish (Jay Baruchel) hosts a radio call-in show whose audience is as loyal in spirit as it is infinitesimal in size. His listener-ship is comprised exclusively of the citizens of Mud Meadows, a small town discreetly nestled in the pine-encrusted mountains of Southern California (the movie was filmed in the scenic Big Bear area). Although he's come to be known as "The Voice of Mud Meadows" for keeping the town folk apprised on issues of concern to the local community, Fish really isn't all that happy with his life. He actually feels hemmed in by the restrictions of small town life and is beginning to have second thoughts about his impending marriage to a childhood friend, Kate (Alexis Bledel), whom he may be marrying more out of a sense of duty and obligation than out of genuine love or passion. His life gets even more complicated when Jill (Schuyler Fisk), a girl he once had a crush on, returns to Mud Meadows for the summer, stirring up old feelings in him and making him question even more the level of his commitment to Kate.

Based on a semi-autobiographical story by none other than Reed Fish himself, "I'm Reed Fish" is an utterly beguiling indie comedy, overflowing with sweet sentiment, rueful humor and outstanding performances by Baruchel, Fisk, Bledel, Victor Rasuk, Katey Sagal and Chris Parnell, well known from his work on "Saturday Night Live." Not only are the characters themselves immensely charming and likable but their responses to the situations they find themselves in are believable and touching as well. "I'm Reed Fish," written by Fish and directed by Zackary Adler, is smart about the complexities of romantic relationships, and the movie is filled with any number of beautiful and lovely moments, the most transcendent being the one in which Jill (Fisk) literally lights up the screen with her musical performance at a local pub. As a writer, Fish is scrupulously fair to the characters he's created, avoiding the obvious temptation to paint Kate, in particular, as a fool or a harridan just so he can enhance Jill's virtues in the viewer's eyes. This equanimity makes the protagonist's romantic dilemma all that much more compelling and empathetic for the audience caught up in the story.

As lagniappe, the writer has placed the story in an offbeat film-within-a-film framework that gives the movie an extra added kick at the end.

A cute, small, character driven movie about a guy who looks 15 but is apparently in his mid 20's. On the eve of his wedding, his high school crush comes back to the small town where they grew up. Predictable angst ensues. The soundtrack is good if you like emo country soft rock. The performances are fine, too. Alexis Bledel is very lucky to get so much work considering she only has the one persona. Jay Baruchel channels Zach Braff, which brings me to the main problem with the movie. Unfortunately, it is hard to accept the reality of a town of gorgeous women who inexplicably love scrawny unattractive boys. Worth seeing if you can get it for free, otherwise wait for it to be on Lifetime or MTV.