“Catch and Release”
Directed by: Susannah Grant. Starring: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis.
At first glance and even based on most trailers put out for the film, "Catch and Release" looks like a pretty typical romantic comedy. But lurking beyond that happy, lovey-dovey exterior is a more dramatic and quirky film. The film opens on what appears to be a reception party- white flowers being unloaded from a van, and piles of wedding gifts cover the tables. But in the midst of all this supposed happiness stands Jennifer Garner, as Gray Wheeler, dressed in black. People flutter around her as she tries in vain to hold back her tears. Her fiancé just died in a rafting accident that was part of his bachelor party escapades, and this gathering is his funeral. The day that was meant to be the happiest in her life, the start of a new life, is transformed into a day of unbelievable sadness.
Gray seeks refuge from the people around her by hiding in the bathtub. But even here, she runs into Fritz, a friend of her deceased fiancé, who’s having a tryst with one of the caterers. Fritz is one of three friends of her fiancé that Gray spends time with after his death. Besides Fritz, there's dependable Dennis (Sam Jaeger), and funny, laid back Sam (Kevin Smith). The three of them, along with Gray, lean on one another as they deal with the death of their friend.
As Gray gets her deceased fiancé’s affairs in order, she inadvertently learns more about him. Some of this knowledge brings surprise and excitement, some disappointment, but above all she comes to realize that there was a whole lot about the man she was about to marry that he was keeping from her.
Though similar in many ways to most romantic comedies, there's an added depth to this story that some films of that genre lack. In many ways those aspects of the film that belong in that category take a back seat to the dramatic journey Gray takes in learning the truth about her deceased fiancé. Ultimately, she realizes the things she learns about him are not as important as the things she discovers about herself.
Story: B-
Acting: B
Visuals: B-
Originality: B-
Enjoyability: B
Overall: B
|
