The Four-Faced Liar

Politically correct crap that should have at least PG tag, instead it's on home TV in the middle of the day... And it's not a romantic comedy at all, more like tragedy/drama.

This involves four 20 somethings in NYC. Womanizing lesbian Bridget (Marja Lewis Ryan) lives with her str8 roommate Trip (Todd Kubrak). He's having problems with his girlfriend Chloe (Liz Osborne). Greg (Daniel Carlisle) and Molly (Emily Peck) are living together before they get married...but Greg is too mild-mannered and Molly wants more. They all meet at a bar called Four Faced Liar. They become friends but then Molly falls in love with Bridget and things get unpleasant.

As I said the cast is attractive (especially Carlisle) and it's well done...but there's nothing really new or extraordinary here. The story has been done before and, in a lot of ways, this just seems like an ordinary Hollywood movie with a lesbian twist. We almost constantly hear some song on the soundtrack while watching the characters react to something. Seriously--that's been done hundreds of times before and this adds nothing new. However I must admit the songs were good. Also good is the script--it's well-written and interesting and it had an ending that no Hollywood studio would touch. The acting was all good--especially by Ryan and Kubrak. Carlisle does wonders with a very hard role. His character had to always be laid-back and passive--but you see the sadness and anger in his eyes. When he blows up at the end it's shocking--as it should be. No great shakes but worth seeing. Not rated but it would get an R for language and some discreet lesbian sex scenes. BTW--the cover of the DVD suggests that this is a sex movie and it isn't. No nudity here at all but it comes close a few times. I give it a 7.

The Four-Faced Liar (2010) was directed by Jacob Chase. Marja Lewis Ryan, the film's writer, is also the star. She plays Bridget, a lesbian who is quirky, foul-mouthed, and very successful at one-night conquests. Todd Kubrak is Trip, Bridget's roommate and best friend. Daniel Carlisle (Greg) has just joined his fiancée Molly (Emily Peck) in the West Village. One of them sees their neighborhood as colorful and charming, while the other sees is as unpleasant and threatening.

Everyone hangs out in a bar called The Four-Faced Liar, and the four of them, along with Trip's fiancée, have a more or less "Friends" type existence, with alcohol substituted for caffeine.

This was an interesting film, with good acting and a solid sense of New York City. It didn't really work for me because the key to the plot is Bridget, and I couldn't believe that this irritating chain-smoker would be perceived as every lesbian's dream lover. If you can't accept Bridget as what she's supposed to be, the rest of the film loses steam.

Still, the movie had its moments, and the next viewer might find it as charming as it's meant to be. We saw the film at the Little Theatre as part of the excellent ImageOut Rochester Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. It should work well on DVD.

"The Four-Faced Liar" seems to have an interesting enough title, and it is done very well for its low budget. It also has a whole host of problems.

Where should I begin? It doesn't really matter because the film itself doesn't begin anywhere, except for of course in New York City. I'm starting to think that young film-makers have never been anywhere else. It's supposed to be about four young New Yorkers finding love and figuring out life. But there's actually five of them; one couple just moved in together, one engaged couple, and their lesbian best friend. Which one of these is the insignificant character? I have no idea, they are all insignificant to me.

"The Four-Faced Liar" doesn't give me any reasons to care about these characters, and it doesn't give me any clue to where they are going (other than nowhere, of course, "because New York City is the greatest city in the world").

Influenced by "Friends", I think it's supposed to be an edgier and indie version of the show, except minus the comedy and minus any plot or storyline. "The Four-Faced Liar" even takes their title from "Friends". The show's original title was "Central Perk", the main hangout of the gang. Even for non-fans of the show, I would just watch a couple of random episodes, there would be much more in it than this film.

My summary for this review pretty much takes the cake as far as reviews go. There's not much more to say because this film is not an epic tale like...well, has there ever been a romantic- comedy with a lesbian twist that has been epic? Maybe there's one out there that holds true and strong to you personally, however the whole coming of age, finding yourself, with lesbianism on top- genre is not in grip of the main commercial audience.

This is a humble, down to earth film with a low budget that successfully tells a story with an ending that is both endearing and realistic. The movie keeps you engaged and moves you through it until the end. It is well written, well cast and well directed which is amazing. For those of you who appreciate film, you should watch this.