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Pipe Dream

  • 2001
  • R
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Mary-Louise Parker, Rebecca Gayheart, and Martin Donovan in Pipe Dream (2001)
Home Video Trailer from Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:09
1 Video
15 Photos
Romantic ComedyComedyRomance

A lonely plumber poses as a director to meet women, and the writer whose script he's stolen builds on his ruse to get her movie made.A lonely plumber poses as a director to meet women, and the writer whose script he's stolen builds on his ruse to get her movie made.A lonely plumber poses as a director to meet women, and the writer whose script he's stolen builds on his ruse to get her movie made.

  • Director
    • John Walsh
  • Writers
    • John Walsh
    • Cynthia Kaplan
  • Stars
    • Martin Donovan
    • Anthony Arkin
    • Marla Sucharetza
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Walsh
    • Writers
      • John Walsh
      • Cynthia Kaplan
    • Stars
      • Martin Donovan
      • Anthony Arkin
      • Marla Sucharetza
    • 16User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Pipe Dream
    Trailer 2:09
    Pipe Dream

    Photos15

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    Top cast35

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    Martin Donovan
    Martin Donovan
    • David Kulovic
    Anthony Arkin
    Anthony Arkin
    • Cousin Mike
    Marla Sucharetza
    Marla Sucharetza
    • Lorna Hufflitz
    Mary-Louise Parker
    Mary-Louise Parker
    • Toni Edelman
    Kevin Carroll
    Kevin Carroll
    • RJ Martling
    Kevin Sussman
    Kevin Sussman
    • James
    Natalie B. Pyper
    Natalie B. Pyper
    • Melanie Phillips
    Joel Horwitz
    • Lloyd Hernandez
    Kelley Harron
    • Fran
    Spencer Kayden
    • Waitress
    Michaela Conlin
    Michaela Conlin
    • TV Reporter
    Jonathan M. Woodward
    • Boyd
    Guinevere Turner
    Guinevere Turner
    • Diane Beltrami
    Peter Jacobson
    Peter Jacobson
    • Arnie Hufflitz
    Cynthia Kaplan
    Cynthia Kaplan
    • Charlotte
    Jack Merrill
    Jack Merrill
    • Rich Glover
    Laura Cahill
    • Anya
    Kevin Seal
    Kevin Seal
    • Ned Kurland
    • Director
      • John Walsh
    • Writers
      • John Walsh
      • Cynthia Kaplan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    6.01K
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    Featured reviews

    6ruby_fff

    Before "Saved!" 2004, Martin Donovan and Mary Louise Parker were paired in "Pipe Dream"

    It is a breezy comedy about identity crisis - a plumber, a screenwriter, a casting professional. Using the process/journey of making a film as the storyline, tying the various characters and relationship concerns together, "Pipe Dream" is rather amusingly fun. Watching Martin Donovan and Mary Louise Parker interact is a treat. They are both the leads in this film, front and centered. Their enjoyable pairing in supporting roles can be appreciated in w-d Brian Dannelly's "Saved!" 2004. Both appeared in Jane Campion's "Portrait of a Lady" 1996 with Nicole Kidman.

    Martin Donovan is a staple collaborator in Hal Hartley's films: "Amateur" 1994, "Simple Men" 1992, "Trust" 1991 (highly recommended. NFE: Not for everyone.) He's also remarkable in director Angela Pope's "Hollow Reed" 1995, about child custody situation, where Martin delivered a firm and sensitive role of a divorced father/doctor who lives with a male partner (heart-rending, excellent child performance from Sam Bould as Oliver, the 9-year old son). Donovan co-wrote (with David Koepp) and directed a film called "Apartment Zero" 1988, with Colin Firth in the lead - another NFE but for dark/psycho ventures/suspense (in Buenos Aires) if you're gamed.

    Mary Louise Parker is ever so marvelous and underrated. She's in w-d Jeremy Podeswa's "Five Senses" 1999 (Canadian production), Herbert Ross's "Boys on the Side" 1994 (written by Don Roos) with Whoopi Goldberg and Drew Barrymore, Jon Avnet's "Fried Green Tomatoes" 1991 with a stellar women cast.

    For an Asian (Hong Kong) flavor of a movie/comedy drama using process of making a film as storyline, try the forever versatile and talented Leslie Cheung in "Viva Erotica" aka "Se Qing Nan Nu" 1996.
    7Buster-11

    A very refreshing romantic comedy

    Saw this in preview at the Seattle Film Festival, and was wowed by Parker and Donovan -- also found the script immensely smarter and funnier than most of what passes for romantic comedy these days. This movie deserves a wide audience, I hope it gets a chance to find it.
    8jotix100

    Director in search of stars

    "Pipe Dream", directed by John Walsh with a screen play by Cynthia Kaplan presents us with the amusing premise that anyone can direct a film if one puts one mind's to it, or if the hype behind it makes it a "hot property". The film is a satirical study of the people behind the movie making deals.

    We are presented with a plumber, David, whose job is perceived as such an unimportant one in comparison to the glamorous jobs in the movie business, even if it's an Indie that even Robert Redford might be interested in producing himself. David, the plumber, after spending a night with Toni Edelman in her apartment, overhears her giving a review of his performance to a girlfriend. He doesn't like what he hears! After all, he considers himself a good lover. How can he get dates with a lot of young and attractive women?, well, make believe one is a film director in search of stars for his movie.

    David takes the matter into his own hands and with the help of his friend, a casting director, he makes up a non existing film based on the script he steals from Toni. Little does Toni knows what's going on behind her back until she finds out. In the meantime, all the hip talent agencies are running amok because suddenly "Pipe Dream", the still 'pipe dream' of a film, is becoming the project that everyone wants to be involved in.

    Martin Donovan, as David, and Mary-Louise Parker, as Toni, make a delightful pair at the center of the story. Both performers are good at playing comedy, something that Mr. Donovan doesn't get to do often because we always tend to see him portraying intense characters. On the other hand, Ms. Parker is such an accomplished actress, she can do anything at all. The rest of the cast is excellent.

    The film is a lot of fun that could have used a different resolution, but we feel good spending the hour and a half in the company of a lot of talented young actors, most of them based in New York.
    8bjarias

    .. these guys just produce solid work time and again

    There's a scene towards the very end of the movie, where Mary-Louise Parker .. bit.ly/Suuvwk .. (now the director) and Martin Donovan are talking about the filming setup. It is here that you see just how good an actor she truly is... watching her very subtle and natural facial movements adding depth to her character and the role. All the cast is good and the script is sharp and witty. This is a very good movie, smartly made and very well acted. It's easily four star.. even slightly higher. That same scene at the very end of the film shows a corner street sign.. anyone from the city know what part of town that is? (Good number of family members one time lived right around the corner.)
    jmatrixrenegade

    Light and appealing

    A gentle little parable about what the "perception categories" of regular people as well as those in the movie business that was in the theaters for a short period of time and currently is playing on cable and so forth. Martin Donovan plays a plumber, though more of a quiet and introspective one than many might know, who in upset that people look down on him because of his profession. He seizes on a chance to see what would happen if people so him differently, and maybe get a pretty woman in the process, by pretending to be a director of a new independent film. Things get complicated when the film is actually funded ...

    Martin Donovan is a bit too laid back in this film, but it adds to the low key nature of the film that gives it charm. Mary-Louise Parker plays his neighbor, who gets to show another side of herself as well, being the author of the screenplay and the director behind the scenes. She plays her usual strong woman with self esteem problems role (mixed and match in other projects with her woman with mental or physical problems role) well. Parker does much better here, I think than her underwritten "West Wing" role. The supporting characters also are good, while Jill Hennessey (formerly of "Law and Order" and in a few indies herself) has a funny cameo as an actress.

    The film starts to drag a bit toward the end, but it is enjoyable overall with a nice understated overall tone throughout.

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    Related interests

    Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
    Romantic Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Mary-Louise Parker and Martin Donovan would later appear together in the Showtime series Weeds (2005) and the movie Saved! (2004) In both projects, they play love interests.
    • Connections
      References The Godfather (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Candy Girl
      Written by Bob Parr and Todd Taylor

      Performed by Mary Griffin

      Published by Curb Songs (ASCAP)/Curucu Music (BMI)

      Courtesy of Curb Records, Inc.

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Pipe Dream?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 2001 (Bolivia)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 弄假成真
    • Production companies
      • Curb Entertainment
      • Digital Classics
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $15,430
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,998
      • Oct 6, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,430
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31m(91 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby

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