CNS Movie Review: Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- In 1989, director Cameron Crowe lost his father, unexpectedly, to a heart attack. The tragedy not only profoundly affected the filmmaker on a personal level, but it would also provide the inspiration for "Elizabethtown" (Paramount), a sentimental, though not wholly satisfying, romantic comedy-drama which paradoxically uses death to celebrate life.

After the disappointment of the dark and edgy "Vanilla Sky," Crowe returns to the feel-good tone that made "Jerry Maguire" such a crowd pleaser, crafting an unabashedly optimistic story full of humor and tender emotion.

Orlando Bloom (sans his usual sword) stars as Drew Baylor, a workaholic sneaker designer employed by a Nike-like company run by Alec Baldwin. Drew's brainchild -- the Spasmotica -- proves "a failure of mythic proportions," and nearly sinks the corporation ("it may cause an entire generation to return to bare feet"), costing him not only his job, but his girlfriend, Ellen (Jessica Biel).

Disgraced and deflated, Drew goes to his house to kill himself. But his suicidal intentions are interrupted by a telephone call from his sister (Judy Greer), who informs him that their father has died of a heart attack while visiting family in rural Elizabethtown, Ky.

Drew's mom, Hollie (Susan Sarandon) -- whose grief management involves newfound hobbies such as auto repair and tap dancing -- dispatches him to retrieve the remains, planning to cremate her husband, against the Elizabethtowners' wishes to bury him there. The decision only adds to familial tensions, as Hollie is already on the outs with her extended family for having taken Drew's dad from Elizabethtown to Oregon.

While en route, he meets flight attendant Claire (Kirsten Dunst), a blithe free spirit who gives him her phone number.

Upon arrival at the Norman Rockwellesque community, Drew gets a celebrity's welcome. (He doesn't have the heart to tell them that an upcoming cover story will expose his downfall to the world.) Drew plays his role as dutiful son, meeting colorful relatives, planning a memorial service and running interference for his mom.

Kentucky kin include: Loudon Wainwright as Drew's down-home Uncle Dale; Bruce McGill as his cousin Bill; and Paul Schneider as his single-father cousin Jessie, a frustrated rocker who reunites his old high school band to perform at the memorial with comically calamitous results.

Tired and lonely, Drew calls Claire and their all-night cell phone conversation blossoms into a near-romance. (She has a boyfriend and he has not quite gotten over Ellen, though neither obstacle stops them from eventually sleeping together.)

The fact that Drew will reconnect with his roots, or that Claire's sunny optimism will evaporate his self-pity, is never much in doubt, but the ride is enjoyable.

Bloom is empathetic and appealing, if miscast, unable to completely disguise his native British accent. Dunst is radiant, exuding a buoyant effervescence.

The story ends with a poetically edited -- but overly long -- cross-country driving montage during which Drew spreads his father's ashes, effectively scored to vintage rock and blues songs.

However, the movie's baggy script and cutesy dialogue are surmounted by the movie's genial message that life, though full of risk, is ultimately worth living.

The film contains an implied sexual encounter, an attempted suicide, a questionable (for Catholics) dispersal of ashes, and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

END

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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