Love on the Side

Eve is a waitress in a small town. She lives at home with her brother and doesn't have the money to shake things up. Despite being a talented artist and a quietly beautiful and thoughtful girl, a gentleman named Jeff does not give her the time of day. That is, until the day Linda shows up. She is a tall, gorgeous female businesswoman who makes all of the local gentlemen pant. Including Jeff. But, Linda is not interested in the male gender, she has her eye on Eve. Suddenly, in a strange twist of fate, Jeff finds himself looking at Evie in a different way. Is it possible for Eve to acquire what she has most wanted in life? This is a movie that has no tendencies to be sensational but which still may offend those looking for a nice little love story. The lesbian angle is hidden somewhere in the fine print of the box's cover and one may pick it up, thinking it is just a typical love triangle. But, its not. That said, it is truly has a sweet tale to tell, without shoving anyone's preferences in the viewer's face. The actors are all give nice performances, the script is thoughtful and original, and the costumes/settings are quite appealing. Jennifer Tilly and Dave Thomas are on hand to make things lively and funny, even as the story takes a serious turn. If you would be uncomfortable watching a movie with a few homosexual situations, you should avoid this film, yes. But, at its center, this is truly a love story between a man and a woman. For those who are always clamoring for more love dramas, this is an optional choice for an evening, with much to offer its audience.

Eve Stuckley (Marla Sokoloff) is a waitress and the owner of a diner in Squamish. She pines for Jeff Sweeney (Barry Watson) but he doesn't notice. Alma (Jennifer Tilly) is a fellow waitress who is dating funeral director Red (Dave Thomas). Just when Eve is about to do something about Jeff, outsider Linda Avery (Monika Schnarre) walks into the diner catching Jeff's attention. Linda is staying at the Sweeney Inn. She shocks Eve by making out with her. The bisexual Linda sets off competing love interests. Jeff and Eve's brother Chuck battle for her attention.

Sokoloff is adorable. The only thing is that she's can't sell being fat. Linda could have been a very limited character but she turns out to be quite interesting. On the hand, Jeff is much less interesting. I can live with a wacky Jennifer Tilly. Pairing her up with a wacky Dave Thomas is a little too much. It's a low budget Canadian rom-com but it does take a few compelling turns. It's not top-level production but it's worth a look.

4 September 2010. A suggestion of A DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) along with a echoes of SIMPLY RESISTIBLE (1999) and slight reflections of YOU GOT MAIL (1998). this romance movie that is flavored with a faint taste of comedy and humor, a brush stroke of more serious drama than most comedy dramas, and some elements of substantive thought, LOVE ON THE SIDE has a flourish of captivating thoughtful charm headlined by unknown actors, except Jennifer Tilly, who only co-stars in this movie. While the plot outline is a bit confusing in regards to who is running after who and the subplot of a classy, business woman with a hidden agenda in some tome is pretty generic, the delivery and presentation of the story is more than average and is carried off decently and with heartfelt competency.

It's a slow start and you're expecting a formula rom com but the plot takes a twist that adds a whole new dimension. Jennifer Tilly steals the show and Monika Schnarre is 6' 1" of gorgeousness. Just a nice movie that ties up the knots in the end. Some snappy dialogue helps and you'll recognize it when Monika (the actress) responds to someone trying to ask her if she is gay.

I chose this film from Blockbuster because it said on the label "a must-see for all fans of 'Bridget Jones Diary'". My 16 year old daughter had just seen Bridget Jones' diary and said she wanted a film just like that, so I chose this. I expected the worst and, for once, I was real pleasantly surprised. This film has a very intelligent script, that does a lovely job of playing with the stereotypes. It has the usual characters found in small-town America (actually Canada, this one): lovable waitress, football star jock, sweet young teenager with lifelong crush on said jock. But then it stirs these around in unexpected ways: the outsider who comes into break the small town harmony has, shall we say, rather surprising characteristics; lovable waitress is actually deeply in love with a mortuary worker; the football jock runs a motel, and so on. There is some lovely thoughtful direction here too: one shot, of the umbrellas at a funeral, is worthy of Chabrol, and the film is cunningly punctuated by black and white shots of the changing titles at the local movie house, just slightly edging the film to the surreal (and, there is a nice joke on pork belly investments too). It is superbly acted, in a relaxed and understated way. Overall, a modest, unassuming, but veritable delight, that kept us all giggling and intrigued throughout. It is worth far more than the 5.4 it currently rates. It puts to shame many a movie made with far more money and with big name stars (eg, the tiresome Bridget Jones films). Go find it and watch it.