The quirky and recessive charms of co-stars Martin Donovan and Mary-Louise Parker help overcome the problematic script of John C. Walsh's romantic comedy about a plumber who poses as a film director to meet women. More than a little reminiscent, in plot if not tone, of the recent Japanese horror film "Audition", "Pipe Dream" often taps into real modes of human behavior even as its plot becomes more and more outlandish. The film, opening today in several Manhattan theaters, should benefit from Parker's current media profile, heightened by her roles in "Red Dragon" and TV's "The West Wing".
Donovan plays David Kulovic, a Manhattan plumber who's not above overcharging the obnoxious upscale clients who treat him like dirt. His moral relativism, fueled by his class-conscious resentment of being relegated to a "low-perception category," is further exacerbated by a one-night stand with his next-door neighbor, aspiring screenwriter Toni (Parker). Regretful the next morning because of his lowly plumber status, she makes things even worse by inviting him to a reading of her work because she wants the opinion of an "average person."
David hits upon a scheme while visiting his friend RJ (Kevin Carroll), a commercial casting director, at work. He will pretend to be a director, casting an upcoming film, with the hope of scoring with one of the many beautiful and desperate actresses who show up. To provide material for the audition, he steals one of Toni's scripts. Discovering the deception, she's initially horrified, but when the "project" somehow starts generating buzz in the industry, she agrees to go along, and somehow the film actually goes into production. This results in inevitable complications, especially when David starts romancing the gorgeous leading lady (Rebecca Gayheart).
The film's satirical take on the New York film scene, while not exactly realistic, does generate some laughs -- the depiction of the struggle between a pair of rapacious agents is particularly amusing -- and the offbeat characterizations are another plus. It helps greatly that the central characters have some edge to them, especially Donovan's plumber, who is not the sweet, nice guy so endemic to romantic comedies. Donovan, a performer who never panders to the audience, gives David a sharp, sarcastic edge, and his stubbornly misguided sense of entitlement feels wholly identifiable. Parker is equally skillful at conveying her character's idiosyncrasies, and the relationship between the two characters displays a welcome complexity.
On the other hand, the plot contrivances ultimately become too glaring to ignore, and director Walsh doesn't help matters with his slack pacing. Not quite jelling to a satisfying whole, "Pipe Dream" is best appreciated for the performances from its leads and for its sporadic flashes of wit.
PIPE DREAM
Castle Hill Prods.
Credits:
Director: John C. Walsh
Screenwriters: John C. Walsh, Cynthia Kaplan
Producers: Sally Roy, Carole Curb Nemoy & Mike Curb
Executive Producer: Michael Zilkha
Director of photography: Peter Nelson
Score: Alexander Lasarenko
Editor: Malcolm Jamieson
Costume designer: Elizabeth Shelton
Production designer: Paul Avery
Cast:
David Kulovic: Martin Donovan
Toni Edelman: Mary-Louise Parker
Marliss Funt: Rebecca Gayheart
Cousin Mike: Anthony Arkin
Lorna Hufflitz: Marla Sucharetza
RJ Martling: Kevin Carroll
Running time -- 91 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Donovan plays David Kulovic, a Manhattan plumber who's not above overcharging the obnoxious upscale clients who treat him like dirt. His moral relativism, fueled by his class-conscious resentment of being relegated to a "low-perception category," is further exacerbated by a one-night stand with his next-door neighbor, aspiring screenwriter Toni (Parker). Regretful the next morning because of his lowly plumber status, she makes things even worse by inviting him to a reading of her work because she wants the opinion of an "average person."
David hits upon a scheme while visiting his friend RJ (Kevin Carroll), a commercial casting director, at work. He will pretend to be a director, casting an upcoming film, with the hope of scoring with one of the many beautiful and desperate actresses who show up. To provide material for the audition, he steals one of Toni's scripts. Discovering the deception, she's initially horrified, but when the "project" somehow starts generating buzz in the industry, she agrees to go along, and somehow the film actually goes into production. This results in inevitable complications, especially when David starts romancing the gorgeous leading lady (Rebecca Gayheart).
The film's satirical take on the New York film scene, while not exactly realistic, does generate some laughs -- the depiction of the struggle between a pair of rapacious agents is particularly amusing -- and the offbeat characterizations are another plus. It helps greatly that the central characters have some edge to them, especially Donovan's plumber, who is not the sweet, nice guy so endemic to romantic comedies. Donovan, a performer who never panders to the audience, gives David a sharp, sarcastic edge, and his stubbornly misguided sense of entitlement feels wholly identifiable. Parker is equally skillful at conveying her character's idiosyncrasies, and the relationship between the two characters displays a welcome complexity.
On the other hand, the plot contrivances ultimately become too glaring to ignore, and director Walsh doesn't help matters with his slack pacing. Not quite jelling to a satisfying whole, "Pipe Dream" is best appreciated for the performances from its leads and for its sporadic flashes of wit.
PIPE DREAM
Castle Hill Prods.
Credits:
Director: John C. Walsh
Screenwriters: John C. Walsh, Cynthia Kaplan
Producers: Sally Roy, Carole Curb Nemoy & Mike Curb
Executive Producer: Michael Zilkha
Director of photography: Peter Nelson
Score: Alexander Lasarenko
Editor: Malcolm Jamieson
Costume designer: Elizabeth Shelton
Production designer: Paul Avery
Cast:
David Kulovic: Martin Donovan
Toni Edelman: Mary-Louise Parker
Marliss Funt: Rebecca Gayheart
Cousin Mike: Anthony Arkin
Lorna Hufflitz: Marla Sucharetza
RJ Martling: Kevin Carroll
Running time -- 91 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/4/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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