SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- A comedic misfire and romantic nonstarter, "Changing Habits" packs a lot of story into its 93 minutes, but there's not enough pizazz to the dialogue or magic in the performances.
The feature debut of writer Scott Davis Jones and director Lynn Roth, "Changing Habits" premiered recently at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where audiences responded favorably to the leads played by Moira Kelly ("Unhook the Stars") and Dylan Walsh ("Congo"). With a supporting cast that includes Christopher Lloyd, Teri Garr, Eileen Brennan and Shelley Duvall, the independent production has a fighting chance as a carefully handled limited release.
With short hair and a tomboy attitude, Kelly plays troubled Soosh Teagarden, a thieving young artist who moves into a convent to save money. Working days at a chic Melrose Avenue clothing store in Los Angeles, Soosh is the daughter of a renowned painter (Lloyd), but they are antagonistic toward each other. She blames him for her mother's suicide years earlier.
At the dilapidated nunnery, Soosh makes friends with another conflicted tenant (Marissa Ribisi) and wonders at the silent, coy ways of Sister Agatha (Duvall), who is adept at minor repairs. But it's the tolerant, rules-breaking Mother Superior (Brennan) who truly appreciates Soosh and makes her welcome.
Soosh finds a mothballed chapel in the basement and starts painting a mural of her personal life struggle. While shoplifting at an art store, she's caught and then asked out on a date by the owner Felix Walsh). Her defenses start to go down, but he disastrously takes them to an art opening for her father's latest exhibition.
Not easily discouraged, Felix pursues Soosh and on his own probes the death of her mother.
Roth and cinematographer Michael Mayers ("Denise Calls Up") find ways to visually spruce up the humdrum milie.
CHANGING HABITS
Initial Entertainment and Teagarden Pictures
Director Lynn Roth
Writer Scott Davis Jones
Exec. producers Cindy Cowan, Graham King
Producers Abra Edelman, James Dodson
Director of photography Michael Mayers
Production designers Dena Roth, Gail Bennett
Costume designer Denise Martinez
Color/stereo
Cast:
Soosh Teagarden Moira Kelly
Theo Teagarden Christopher Lloyd
Felix Dylan Walsh
Connie Teri Garr
Mother Superior Eileen Brennan
Sister Agatha Shelley Duvall
Erin Marissa Ribisi
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
The feature debut of writer Scott Davis Jones and director Lynn Roth, "Changing Habits" premiered recently at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where audiences responded favorably to the leads played by Moira Kelly ("Unhook the Stars") and Dylan Walsh ("Congo"). With a supporting cast that includes Christopher Lloyd, Teri Garr, Eileen Brennan and Shelley Duvall, the independent production has a fighting chance as a carefully handled limited release.
With short hair and a tomboy attitude, Kelly plays troubled Soosh Teagarden, a thieving young artist who moves into a convent to save money. Working days at a chic Melrose Avenue clothing store in Los Angeles, Soosh is the daughter of a renowned painter (Lloyd), but they are antagonistic toward each other. She blames him for her mother's suicide years earlier.
At the dilapidated nunnery, Soosh makes friends with another conflicted tenant (Marissa Ribisi) and wonders at the silent, coy ways of Sister Agatha (Duvall), who is adept at minor repairs. But it's the tolerant, rules-breaking Mother Superior (Brennan) who truly appreciates Soosh and makes her welcome.
Soosh finds a mothballed chapel in the basement and starts painting a mural of her personal life struggle. While shoplifting at an art store, she's caught and then asked out on a date by the owner Felix Walsh). Her defenses start to go down, but he disastrously takes them to an art opening for her father's latest exhibition.
Not easily discouraged, Felix pursues Soosh and on his own probes the death of her mother.
Roth and cinematographer Michael Mayers ("Denise Calls Up") find ways to visually spruce up the humdrum milie.
CHANGING HABITS
Initial Entertainment and Teagarden Pictures
Director Lynn Roth
Writer Scott Davis Jones
Exec. producers Cindy Cowan, Graham King
Producers Abra Edelman, James Dodson
Director of photography Michael Mayers
Production designers Dena Roth, Gail Bennett
Costume designer Denise Martinez
Color/stereo
Cast:
Soosh Teagarden Moira Kelly
Theo Teagarden Christopher Lloyd
Felix Dylan Walsh
Connie Teri Garr
Mother Superior Eileen Brennan
Sister Agatha Shelley Duvall
Erin Marissa Ribisi
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 3/24/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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