Just Add Water (2008/I)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Hart Bochner

Writer:

Hart Bochner (writer)

Release Date:

18 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

An offbeat romantic comedy about a decent guy, Ray Tuckby, with a dead-end life in the dead-end town of Trona, CA. After encouragement from a stranger whom he happens upon, Ray begins to dream again. He sheds the parasites in his life, musters the nerve to pursue his childhood love, and finally takes back his community by toppling the local teenage Meth-baron.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | California | Rural

Cast

Dylan Walsh	...	Ray Tuckby
Tracy Middendorf	...	Nora
Danny DeVito	...	Merl
Justin Long	...	Spoonie
Jonah Hill	...	Eddie
Anika Noni Rose	...	R'ch'lle
Brad Hunt	...	Denny
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Emily Arlook	...	Candy
Lindsey Axelsson	...	Chrisy
Penny Balfour	...	Charlene
John Balma	...	Elmo
Lucy DeVito	...	Wanda
Chelsea Field	...	Cathy
Lee Garlington	...	Penny
Michael Hitchcock	...	Mark Tuckby
Lu Jenks	...	Driver in Parking
Joey Kern	...	Scotty
Scott Kinworthy	...	Car Customer
Melissa McCarthy	...	Selma
David Merheb	...	Driver in Parking
Nate Mooney	...	Stan
Ahna O'Reilly	...	Tammy
Will Rothhaar	...	Dirk
Jonathan Sachar	...	John
Ashley Sherman	...	Shakwanda
Cerina Vincent	...	Merl's Wife
Tracey Walter	...	Clem
Sewell Whitney	...	Restaurant Customer

Also Known As:

One Part Sugar (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug material.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R | Netherlands:6 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bleeding Hart Films

Soundtrack:

Cuts Like A Blade

Instant classic. I hate comparing, but it's this year's Juno...

I absolutely loved this film. It's endearing from beginning to end. Seeing it tonight at the DGA was a great way to spend the evening. I had no idea what I was walking into beyond the stellar cast comprised of Dylan Walsh, Tracy Middendorf, Danny DeVito and the ever beautiful Cerina Vincent. Rounding out the cast were a couple cameos including a great turn by uber-slacker Justin Long.

Funny. That's the underlying truth. But without the over-the-top syrup that comedies like this strive for. Dylan's stretching his legs into a new category of his career...a fine actor beyond the scope of Nip/Tuck. I'm anxious to see his role as the psychotic dad in The Stepfather remake lensing right now.

DeVito's voice-over carried the comedic scenes into a hilarious threshold and I found myself clapping while busting a gut at some of the sequences...including a nod at Blazing Saddles with a meth'd out woman punching a dog.

And Hart Bochner. What can I say? He forever left an image opposite Alan Rickman trying to broker a deal in the original Die Hard playing Ellis...well, chalk up his resume to a writer/director to watch in the coming years. He's transitioned quite well and created a gem of a little film.

Brilliant. Not to miss.