Barry Munday

In this comedy directed by Chris D'Arienzo based on the novel Life is a Strange Place by Frank Turner Hollon, Patrick Wilson plays Barry Munday, a suburban wanna-be ladies man, who makes up in the hospital with both of his testicles gone after being attacked in a movie theater for hitting on the wrong girl. To make matters worse, a paternity lawsuit is filed by a woman he can't remember having sex with. Realizing this being his last chance to ever be a father, Barry decides to take on the responsibility on being a good father.

My initial impression of the concept of this film was that this film could either be a feminist revenge fantasy or a raunchy comedy. Thankfully, this film was neither of those, but turned out to be a surprisingly poignant little comedy, with a honest, introspective look at what being a man entails beyond having the body parts, if you will. Given it's a comedy, there were many predictable directions this film could have taken at the expense of Patrick Wilson's character, Barry. Surprisingly, the film avoids the obvious and portrays Barry in a sympathetic and real way. Barry starts off as an irresponsible loafer, whose main interest involve bedding women, who soon after loses his most prized asset and what he feels makes him a man. He goes through a slump until he finds out that someone may actually be carrying his child (from a previous fling he had no recollection of). In a sense, he realizes being a father may be the only thing left that connects him to his manhood.

Barry meets the mother of the child, Ginger Farley (Judy Greer), who isn't particularly a looker, to put it nicely. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Farley, as played by Cybill Shepherd and Malcolm McDowell, seem to agree that Ginger hadn't quite lived up to their expectations, in beauty and otherwise, unlike their model daughter, Jennifer (Chloë Sevigny). There's noticeably a bit of a sibling rivalry between Ginger and Jennifer. As we get to know the characters, we see personal baggage behind both Ginger and Barry which perhaps contributed much in how they viewed themselves and their lifestyle. With Ginger full of bitterness and resentment toward Barry, the relationship between Barry and Ginger is often awkward and comic as Barry is honestly trying to know her better for the first time. Advertisement

Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) is close to perfect in the role of Barry, where he deftly milks the comic aspects of his shallow character as well as his eventual change to a deeper, sympathetic, and more serious side. Judy Greer plays the awkward Ginger Farley with caustic wit and consistency. Cybill Shepherd and Malcolm McDowell in their supporting roles as Ginger's parents, the Farleys, turn in expectedly seasoned performances. Bill Dee Williams (do I even have to mention Empire Strikes Back?) is his usual charming self as Barry's Delorean-driving boss, who happens to be close to the Farleys. Jean Smart is great as the blunt, yet sharp-minded, Carol Munday, Barry's mother.

This independent film marks Chris D' Arienzo's directorial debut and it is a strong one. The comedy feels natural because it's fairly close to life for the most part. The emotions of the characters feel genuine. It is unexpectedly touching. Patrick Wilson does great work in his role as the titular character. It's not what I would call a laugh-a-minute comedy, but a deeper, thoughtful film that happens to have much comedy—usually the type of films I gravitate toward. This film left me with some thoughts long afterwards, which says a lot about a comedy, let alone any film.

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The world of quirky indie comedies can be an annoying pool to wade through, speckled with entries that can be too quaint and odd for my liking. But every once in a while they throw out one that's funny in its own little way for specific reasons, and just a bit touching too. I found Barry Munday to be one just like this. Lovable Patrick Wilson, an actor who keeps impressing me in different ways with his naturalistic charm and laid back ease in front of the camera, is hilarious as Barry Munday, a dumbbell of a dude who fancies himself the ladies man and haplessly tries to get himself laid. A lot. When he loses his testicles in an accident involving an underage girl, a trumpet and a movie theatre (I know), he becomes hopelessly depressed. When awkward Ginger Farley (adorable and underrated Judy Greer <3) contacts him claiming that he got her pregnant after a drunken hookup, his life is both upheaved and given ironic purpose as he gets to know her, deal with her 'out there' personality and his own, and be there for the birth of his kid. Wilson faces each scene with the cavalier innocence of a high schooler in a mid thirties man's body and is priceless whenever on screen. Greer is a frumpy little bunny as Ginger, a grouchy, socially awkward chick with brief flashes of feeling that she fiercely guards. Malcolm McDowell and Cybill Shepherd smirk their way through their work as Gingers parents, Jean Smart is loopy fun as Barry's hippie mother, Chloe Sevigny a sly devil as Ginger's slutbomb of a sister, Billy Dee Williams as Mcdowell's colleague, Shea Wigham steals scenes as Barry's moronic buddy, and there's a nice cameo from Shooter Mcgavin himself, Christopher McDonald. It's a low key turn from everyone, but in not going to crazy mode they find the subtle beats of comedy that to me are always more fun than going silly and over the top.

I am used to seeing Patrick Wilson chasing Ghosts in Haunted Houses but in this light hearted Romantic Comedy he holds his own. Balls ? Judy Greer is great as Ginger a Old Maid who gets pregnant and her Man . Wilson's Munday is sort of a Womanizer turned into Homemaker Dad after he loses his testicles in attack by girlfriends father. Raunchy aside If you stay with this til the End. Pretty Funny flick. Impressive Cast !!

"Barry Munday" is the type of comedy that will give you a certain inner warmth, but not necessarily make you laugh out loud. And in a way it is nice with a comedy like that, but I was missing on more funny moments throughout the movie. It is the sort of movie that makes you appreciate life and all its unpredictable moments.

The cast in "Barry Munday" is quite good. And I must say that the movie is carried by Patrick Wilson (playing Barry Munday) as a very kind, good-hearted and lovable person. And there were also some pretty good names on the supporting roles list, such as Malcolm McDonald, Billy Dee Williams, Cybill Shepherd and Colin Hanks.

I found the movie to be surprising in the way that it shows that despite life throws you a curve ball, you can still manage to make something good out of the situation you are in. Keep your head up high and be positive, and that is a good morale for the movie.

The story is nicely acted out on the screen and you want to see what happens next. Sure the story is not a fast-paced one, but it gets you to where it needs to be in its own manner and pace.

However, if you are planning a night of fun and laughter, "Barry Munday" might not be the best of choices. That being said, this is not a bad movie at all. It is nice in its own way. "Barry Munday" is a movie that should be watched by all who appreciate life and the joy of living.

Barry Munday (Patrick Wilson) is a lascivious womanizer slacker. He's a real boob man. He hits on a young girl at the movie theater and her dad smashes his balls with a trumpet. He wakes up in the hospital with his testicles removed. His girlfriend returns and breaks up. He gets a paternity suit from Ginger Farley (Judy Greer). Despite not remembering the night, he accepts responsibility. He starts to act differently. Carol (Jean Smart) is Barry's single mother. He doesn't know his father. Ginger has her parents (Malcolm McDowell, Cybill Shepherd) and her outgoing sister Jennifer Farley (Chloë Sevigny).

It's a wacky premise similar to Knocked Up although castration is no manwaxing. The characters are less likable. The comedy is unfunny because of that. There is a sad aura around the whole thing. This has a cast of great comedic actors but it's missing the comedic writing. Chris D'Arienzo is no Judd Apatow.