The Trouble with Dee Dee

I sat through this amateurish mess at the Rhode Island Film Festival and dear god, it was tedious. The lead actress is actually quite charming, given what she has to work with; but there is simply no getting past a script this bad. The characters are one-dimensional and cartoonish -- DeeDee the crazy cutup, the stern patrician father with a hidden sensitive side -- and the story simply doesn't make sense. Particularly laughable are the "board meetings," scenes clearly conceived by a writer who has never been inside a boardroom and whose idea of this world comes straight from television. I haven't heard dialogue this hackneyed in a long time. If you make it to the mawkish ending, you will be punished for your patience. Never, never see this film.

This movie is a riot - we were lucky enough to see it at the Chicago International Film Festival and the entire audience laughed out loud throughout the film. Lisa Ann Walter (playing Dee Dee) is a comic genius: She brings so much dimension to the character. Dee is crazy, lovable, annoying and courageous all at once. She's so "out there" that you just can't help but root for her. Kurtwood Smith gives a powerful performance as Dee Dee's father. The scene in his painting studio/office where he "loses it" was superb; and the one in the hospital with his loyal assistant Stuart (played by Jeff Clampitt)is great also. The rest of the cast is excellent too. Keep a watch out for J.P. Manoux, because he is going places for sure. This is Mike Meiners' first full feature movie, but it does not show at all. The directing, editing, etc. is top-notch, and the soundtrack is awesome. I really hope others get to see this film - it is laugh-out-loud-funny. Mike Meiners' full-feature debut is a hit.

Why can't all comedies be this good? I loved this film. Lisa Ann Walter gives an amazing performance -- her "Dee Dee" is completely charismatic: brash, blissfully un-self-conscious, irrepressible, warm-hearted, stubborn, sassy and hilarious. Kurtwood Smith as her father is the perfect foil for her: the two of them are like oil and water. It is obvious from the beginning that neither character truly "gets" the other--and isn't that true of most parent/child relationships? Through all of the film's kooky twists and turns, Mike Meiners' deft hand at the camera and his right-on-the-money script carry us along with Dee Dee and her father as they develop a real understanding of themselves and of each other. By the end of the film, after laughs galore and several very poignant scenes too, father and daughter have forged a connection they never had before. The film yields up so many comedic gems: the director's own turn as the persistent cop who is increasingly frustrated by Dee Dee is one of my favorites of these -- as is J.P. Manoux's hilarious turn as Dee Dee's ever-faithful "help," Yugo, and Mason Gamble as Dee Dee's gay son Christopher, who does "get" his mother and in a great bit of role-reversal often finds himself having to act as the parent figure in their relationship. The soundtrack is wonderful -- quirky and evocative without being intrusive. Mike Meiners displays a profound understanding of the misunderstandings that can plague parents and their children and tells his story with humor and with heart. For a first full-length feature film, this work is impressive indeed. I look forward to Meiners' next project!

I had an unexpected opportunity to view this movie at the Savannah (GA) Film Festival in November 2006. I was in town for the weekend (the fest was a bonus) and had no advance information about the film, no preconceptions. It was great!! Rare are the films that produce genuine, spontaneous laughter and evoke delighted surprise. The film's characters were engaging; the story carried one through the ups and downs of predictable relationships and unexpected responses. I'm actually amazed, as I write this, that so many of the scenes come (happily) to mind--it made that kind of impression. The cinematic qualities were excellent (all the framing, angles, light, settings, etc., which are most obvious when done poorly and transparent when done well). I do so hope this film will be released.

I caught this hilarious film at the East Lansing Film Festival and it was my favorite of the festival.

The very vivacious Dee Dee frequently goes on wild adventures, living her life to fullest. But when her millionaire father can no longer handle her crazy antics he cuts her off from his fortune. Forced to manage for herself, Dee Dee still manages to be her same spirited self.

This movie is always entertaining. When the first scene started I laughed out loud and as the rest of the movie played the laughter never stopped. Lisa Ann Walter is perfectly cast as the title character. All of her lines are hilariously delivered, it's impossible not to love her. Mason Gamble is also wonderful as Christopher, Dee Dee's gay son who hesitantly accompanies her on the many escapades. Along with Dee Dee and Christopher, the family helper Yugo, also hilariously played by J.P. Manoux, joins the two as well. And Kurtwood Smith does a marvelous job as William Rutherford, Dee Dee's father, it really is a nice performance that helps make the film work.

What I love about the film is how charming and amusing it is. There are so many little touches throughout the film, it's fun to spot all the small jokes while huge jokes are taking place. And the film flows so nicely, though the story has been told before, the characters are so well written and they all have such great qualities, it's a different experience.

Written and directed by Meiners, it's a lovely film that everyone will enjoy. It's the hunt and the kill baby and I'm glad I hunted down this film.