Stuck on Neal

Nope this wasn't a million dollar blockbuster, there were no Hollywood stars, there were some awkward moments, and the flow was sometimes sketchy. But a third of the way into the movie I was IN the movie. I found myself caring for the characters, I was absolutely unable to guess where things were heading, and I didn't care how long it took to find out! Later I found myself wanting to share moments from the movie with others and in doing so I noticed I was beginning to understand why a character acted a certain way or said what they did--like they were real people! Over the next few days I was still thinking and talking about the movie. How often does that happen?

Let me put my cards on the table. This is not my kind of movie. I'm an old man. I am a literary guy. I don't think I'm prudish (though I may be :-) ) but I always prefer a good extended metaphor to a sexy scene and when I think of "adult" humor I think more of Mark Twain than Adam Sandler. Yet, even saying that, this movie ultimately won me over. There truly here is value for everyone. Mr. McGreevy has taken a short play in which I might have cast Sandler and then without losing any comic edge and without seams turned it into a serious psychological work that has something meaningful to say to a new (and even an old) generation. It deals with topics and transcends them that often in lesser work risks becoming agenda or mere hipness. The acting, the soundtrack, the editing here are totally professional. McGreevy himself, Darrick Silkman, Chelsea Wagoner, and Andrea Erickson are all top-notch. By the way, you will love the soundtrack too and will start searching out the groups (such as Blood Cow) for downloads. Who needs more than $5000 to produce a winning movie? Not Aaron Gum (Bent Over Neal's director) or Andrew McGreevy.