The Guardian (USA)

Dear Elizabeth review – famous name decorates warm-hearted loser comedy

- Phil Hoad

The Hunger Games’ Elizabeth Banks is an unexpected choice as the muse of this Canadian comedy-drama, adapted from Michael Kun’s pre-social mediaera novel about a sadsack software worker’s obsession with Heather Locklear – who, to be honest, was more front-and-centre than Banks in the zeitgeist of her day. Debut director Scott Abramovitc­h’s gentle film is less a look at digital-age fandom than an affable primer on accepting your own unremarkab­leness.

Sid Straw (Tony Hale) is pootling along in his job as VP of marketing at a generic firm, waving/drowning on the midlife dating scene, and irritating his sister-in-law Janet (24’s Elisha Cuthbert) with his try-hard perkiness. So when he is called to organise a college reunion, he spies a golden opportunit­y to bolster his standing: by persuading his famous one-time pal Elizabeth Banks to attend. He begins leaving messages on her Facebook page, oversharin­g about his personal life and invariably signing off with “Eat wheaties!”; the special farewell the future Hollywood star would shout out to the volleyball team.

But the hapless desk-jockey doesn’t realise the posts are public. As Sid’s profession­al life unravels, Hale forestalls what might have been a satirical pile-on with deft attentiven­ess to the nerves and eagerness to please behind the droopy moustache. He’s helped by Abramovitc­h’s fastidious characteri­sation, perhaps left over from its literary origins; there is lived-in detail everywhere, including a voicemail scene reminiscen­t of Swingers, in which Sid’s hands-free attempts to call “Kate, My Girlfriend” end up in “Ray’s Skate Land”.

There’s a kind of bravery in having Sid remain an unfailingl­y nice guy, even when his world is collapsing and he calls on the service of a slovenly lawyer (Paul Walter Hauser). But maybe giving him some darker traits, a hint of stalker obsession, would have pushed Dear Elizabeth’s comedy into something more radically funny, instead of just being briskly amusing. The sitcomish direction drags it further in the direction of complacenc­y, but Hale and the focused writing ensure it has a kindhearte­d integrity.

• Dear Elizabeth is available on digital platforms on 14 November.

 ?? Photograph: PR ?? Unfailingl­y nice … Tony Hale in Dear Elizabeth.
Photograph: PR Unfailingl­y nice … Tony Hale in Dear Elizabeth.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States