Monica Velour - Il grande sogno

Although some of my colleagues were a bit shocked by the subject matter I was extremely satisfied with this dark comedy film with feeling. It was truthful yet entertaining (mostly due to the Cast & heartfelt writing). Dustin being a newcomer allowed me to believe this was a real boy struggling with the issues of growing up under his slightly unusual circumstances. Kim Cattrall was wonderful and her chemistry with Dustin was unbelievable! I would love to know if she and he were long time friends and she had something to do with choosing him as Tobe. Brian Dennehy was strong yet short lived in this film. I believe there could've been an entire movie in itself based on POP-POP and TOBE'S relationship and home life. (Maybe an HBO Series). Ha! I'm very excited that Kim has shed the "Sex In The City" suit for a more "real" dark character and with a new star on its way in the form of Dustin Ingram, this movie will be a long lived tribute to his start (although he has plenty of younger Disney & Nickelodeon credits). I highly recommend going and seeing it in April 2011 when ANCHOR BAY is supposed to release it nation wide! And don't let the taboo of the word "Porn Star" keep you from enjoying a delightful movie about young love and maturing in a current world of motherless and fatherless households with our children being raised by the media. Please support this work of art written and directed by Kieth Bearden.

"Why can't you like normal stuff like everybody else?" Toby is a nerd. He likes things no one else does like 1920's music, but his favorite thing of all is former adult film star Monica Velour (Cattrall). After his Grandfather (Dennehy) insults him one too many times Toby decides to leave, and meets Monica. This is the type of movie that when you watch you like it, but when its over and you look back on it you start to like it more and more. I snickered a few times watching, but when I remember the lines and context I laugh harder. This movie is a surprisingly sweet coming of age tale about a boy on his way up and a woman on her way down. I have a bad habit of, for lack of a better word, over-simplifying a review by comparing it to movies people have heard of. That said...this movie is a cross between "Napolean Dynamite" and "Boogie Nights". If Napolean met the Julianna Moore character from "Boogie Nights" you would have this movie. I will have to say the Kim Cattrall is the perfect choice for this movie and while not being the total opposite of Samantha she is more of a burnt out version of that character. I would love to see at least a Golden Globe nomination for her for this, but I doubt that will happen. Overall, a good movie that will grow on you. I give it a B

Would I watch again? - I think I might

*Also try - Elektra Luxx

Kim Cattrall flexes her acting muscles in a whole new direction with much success in this surprisingly original film expertly written and directed by Keith Bearden. Dustin Ingram is the ideal combination of nerd and charm as Tobe Holbert, while Brian Dennehy is fun as Tobe's father (aka "Pop Pop"). Keith David provides a breath of fresh air from all the quirkiness as Claude, an amiable and wise character. I saw this at an opening in Chicago which was attended by Dustin Ingram and included a Skyped interview with Keith Bearden post-showing. I was delighted to find that Bearden is just as much of a cool character in real life as the ones he created for the screen, while Ingram maintains a genuine sweetness and vulnerability. Meet Monica Velour is definitely a well spent 98 minutes.

I am not one for either reading reviews or writing them. I did however sign up with IMDb just now to recommend this movie and posit that Kim Cattrall should easily have taken home a best actor award of some sort for her work in it. For those who have seen the movie or those who will see it, there is a scene (and you will know which one I mean) toward the end that is absolutely breath-taking. I have not seen something that honest and powerful in a movie in a very very long time. I get a chill just thinking about it now. I think as we get older we forget about the tug we felt inside when we first fell in love. We might even block it on purpose because it is frightening and beautiful and very powerful all at the same time. When I watched this film I knew where that feeling was and that it doesn't ever really go away. In a cinematic sea of pop-romance films, this one digs down much deeper. Kim Cattrall makes you want to be her hero. Her performance is just that special.

Watched this because I'm a Kim Cattrall fan. She shows she is a versatile and talented actress who can do much more than just Samantha. She can play anything from sophisticated Manhattanite to even trailer trash former porn star. She even lets all the wrinkles show.

Her co-star Ingram is a bit too goofy looking to be watchable. Makes the movie a bit second rate. Could have chosen a more appealing nerd geek type.

Unfortunately the story is more painful than touching.

Overall watch it if you are Kim Cattrall fan, otherwise it isn't a must see.