Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
KABLUEY MOVIE REVIEW
Directed by: Scott Prendergast
Running time: 87 minutes
Release date: July 4, 2008 (NY), July 11, 2008 (LA), August 1, 2008 (SF)
Genre: Comedy and Drama
Distributor: Regent Releasing
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Kabluey is one of those rare indie-films that confirms the fact that a movie being big budget does not always constitute success on the screen. Director Scott Prendergast, who also wrote this gem, managed to find a way to masterfully blend a comedy with a unique tone together with other genres. The film revolves around an unusually bitter-sweet and funny scenario. Prendergast's film is a parody of issues that are relevant in today's life.
Leslie (Lisa Kudrow) plays a mother of two bratty boys named Cameron (Cameron Wofford) and Lincoln (Landon Henninger). Leslie must work odd hours to make ends meet while her husband is on tour with the Army National Guard in Iraq. She needs help with baby sitting and allows her homeless inept brother-in-law Salmon (Scott Pendergast) to move in and take on the chore. This is a major challenge for Salmon to care for his wild and mischievious boys because he doesn't know how to take care of himself. Cameron and Lincoln terrorize poor Salmon causing more havoc for Leslie and her home which turns into chaos. Salmon can only help by getting a job and assist Leslie in paying for a baby-sitter. This part of the film is reminiscent of Home Alone movie, but with two little demons. The two young actors (Wofford and Henninger) who are relatively new to acting are perfectly cast in these parts. The chemistry between them and Pendergast is authentic and naturally funny.
The plot takes a swing focusing on the main character of the movie when Leslie gets Salmon a job at her down-sized company called the BluNexion Corporation. This is where the director Pendergast takes the audience on a hilarious ride. He exposes the poor state the economy of the country is in through extremely humorous situations. Salmon takes a job circulating fliers on a lonely interstate highway to strange people for a weekly paycheck. He must wear a large blue bubble suit. The film also has various other funny subplots.
I found Lisa Kudrow's character was the biggest success in this film. Not to be a spoiler, but her brilliant dramatic performance of a lonely woman having an affair while her husband is away at war, showed me that she is a phenomenally strong performer. Terri Carr as Suze along with Christine Taylor as Betty, Conchata Ferrell as Kathleen and Angela Sarafyan were the quirky characters that shared the supporting spotlight of humor.
Scott Prendergast, first-time director, writer and co-star has taken a simple story of a black sheep member of a family and surprisingly turned this tale into a thoughtful dark comedy. The entire movie stayed true to the independent film form and delivered great dialogue and a fine plot.
FILM RATING (A)
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