Writer-director Kirt Gunn presents an even stranger movie than Stranger Than Fiction, a film with a similar premise starring Will Ferrell (and directed by Marc Forster). Although in Stranger Than Fiction, two narratives (one for the author and one for the character) eventually collide, in Lovely by Surprise, three bizarre narratives coexist until they finally, surprisingly, come together at the end of the film.
Three Separate Stories in Lovely By Surprise
Based on a web series of interrelated short films called The Neverything, the feature film Lovely By Suprise contains three separate, but related stories. In one narrative, Marian (Carrie Preston) a young female novelist debates the fate of her characters with an older writing professor (Austin Pendleton) who clearly is in love with her, his former star student. The novelist’s story grows increasingly disturbing as she suffers a mental breakdown when her former professor urges her to kill off her characters to create more conflict. Ironically, the more Marian seeks to avoid conflict, the more it comes after her.
Another narrative features the characters in her book, two childlike brothers in their underwear who eat cereal and behave badly onboard a landlocked boat. Their surreal story becomes even more absurd as they enter the lives of the novelist and a used car salesman.
In the third narrative, Bob (Reg Rogers), a single-dad widower with an uncommunicative daughter struggles to sell used cars when he would rather dispense philosophy. His pitiful existence will soon change, however, when a chubby man in his underwear with cereal smeared on his face wonders off the pages of a book and into his used car lot.
Strong Acting Enhances Story
Although the cast is not well known, they bring Gunn’s strange characters to life. Preston and Pendleton do a terrific job of portraying the nuances in a male/female mentor/protégé relationship. They walk the fine line between trust and distrust, love and lust, and altruism and self-interest.
Likewise, Rogers brings great poignancy to his portrayal of the struggling used car salesman. As he deals with his personal loss, his troubled daughter, and the pressures of work, you can see the toll it takes on him. Yet Rogers also brings a hint of humor to his sad sack Bob. Rounding out the cast are Kate Burton, Michael Chernus, Dallas Roberts, Richard Masur, and Lena Lamer. This exceptionally talented cast helps extract the meaning from a story that can be difficult to follow at times, but is ultimately worth the effort.
- Lovely by Surprise
- Director: Kirt Gunn
- Run time: 99 minutes
For reviews of other dramatic films, read Movie Review of Married Life and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.
Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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