Mumford

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: Don't be misled by the hilarious trailers for this film, as I was. The clips created the illusion that "Mumford" was a quirky, fast-paced, original comedy to beat the band. Not hardly. Turns out, it's another one of Lawrence Kasdan's naval-gazing snoozers. It could be the sister film to another over-hyped, loser-baby-boomer Kasdan debacle, "Grand Canyon." No wonder "Mumford" seemingly went straight to video. I've come to the conclusion that "The Big Chill" was a fluke, the only truly entertaining work Kasdan will ever do.

The real trouble with "Mumford" is not simply that it wasn't a comedy, as advertised (at least not a funny one). The problem is that it doesn't work as what it actually is...whatever that is. It's just plain boring, solidifying Kasdan's image as a self-obsessed guy with money, whose characters are generally self-obsessed folks with money. Hard to relate.

I did give it an extra star to recognize the fine work of Alfre Woodard, who is always stunningly natural and funny in the most understated way. She never disappoints. And Ted Danson pulls off his character convincingly, as well, so he shares the second star. Still, even these two performances, along with Martin Short's bit part, aren't enough to save this film.

If you want to laugh, skip "Mumford" and buy "Waiting for Guffman" or "Bottle Rocket" -- Now THOSE are quirky, fast-paced comedies. If you want to be put to sleep, go ahead & get "Mumford."

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: Don't be misled by the hilarious trailers for this film, as I was. The clips created the illusion that "Mumford" was a quirky, fast-paced, original comedy to beat the band. Not hardly. Turns out, it's another one of Lawrence Kasdan's naval-gazing snoozers. It could be the sister film to another over-hyped, loser-baby-boomer Kasdan debacle, "Grand Canyon." No wonder "Mumford" seemingly went straight to video. I've come to the conclusion that "The Big Chill" was a fluke, the only truly entertaining work Kasdan will ever do.

The real trouble with "Mumford" is not simply that it wasn't a comedy, as advertised (at least not a funny one). The problem is that it doesn't work as what it actually is...whatever that is. It's just plain boring, solidifying Kasdan's image as a self-obsessed guy with money, whose characters are generally self-obsessed folks with money. Hard to relate.

I did give it an extra star to recognize the fine work of Alfre Woodard, who is always stunningly natural and funny in the most understated way. She never disappoints. And Ted Danson pulls off his character convincingly, as well, so he shares the second star. Still, even these two performances, along with Martin Short's bit part, aren't enough to save this film.

If you want to laugh, skip "Mumford" and buy "Waiting for Guffman" or "Bottle Rocket" -- Now THOSE are quirky, fast-paced comedies. If you want to be put to sleep, go ahead & get "Mumford."

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Film About Redemption and Rebirth
Review: I am really glad to see the solid reviews of this movie. I saw it in the theaters two years ago and it has had a rare staying power.

The writing and everyone in the cast is terrific. Others have noted the attractive romantic leads (Davis and Dean), but I especially enjoyed Jason Lee (whom I had never seen before but have enjoyed since, in Almost Famous among others) and Pruitt Taylor Vince (who was also memorable in Nobody's Fool, another terrific movie). Ted Danson is great in a small role as the most unlikable character in the movie.

The film's essential theme, common in many Kasden movies, is rebirth and redemption. All of the characters (Danson's excepted) effect improvements in their lives due to the catalyst of Mumford, a new psychologist in town. Mumford turns out to be a mystery man with his own skeletons, ultimately uncovered through the efforts of Martin Short, a self-impressed windbag lawyer kicked off the couch by Mumford.

This is a "small" film and I don't want to subject anyone to the curse of too-high expectations. However, it is rewarding and well worth the time. The movie is an uplifting parable of the ever present potential in life to correct past errors and grow, and to lead a life going-forward that is happy, joyous and free.

Rating:
Summary: Subtle humor and great acting make this film a winner
Review: I believe this was one of the most overlooked films of 1999. People go to the theaters to see sex, violence and stupid comedy. This is just a relaxing film with subtle humor, good acting and some good dramatic points. The film feels like we're in a small town back in the nineteen fifties. It's just a great film.

Loren Dean stars as Doctor Mumford a new phsycologist to the town of Mumford. He seems to be helping everyone, especially a young woman (played wonderfully by Hope Davis) who has a sort of syndrome. After Mumford befriends multi-billionare computer software maker Skip Skipperton (played subtly and hilarious by my favorite, Jason Lee). Mumford and Skipperton become real close and he tells Skipperton that he's not a real doctor. He has a fake name, and he just wanted to get a second chance at life. That's all I can tell you for now. It's a very nice film that just warms the soul. The acting is so well, and so calm it's great. Alfre Woodard warms the soul and has so much acting talent as always. Ted Danson also has a small role, but he just plays himself. Martin Short is in this film, his role is annoying and I really didn't like it. But besides that I really liked this film. It shows that sometimes we ALL need a second chances, and we shouldn't always hold someone's past against them. All in all this is a wonderfully beautiful subtle comedy-drama.

Rating:
Summary: Mostly I just listen
Review: I liked this movie and understand the need to start over. What alot of people need is someone to REALLY listen to them. I also liked that he was a standup guy in the end and didn't try to run away.

Rating:
Summary: Contrived but mildly enjoyable
Review: I suppose I should avoid generalizations, especially after only seeing two Lawrence Kasdan films (this and "Grand Canyon"), but the patterns are too pervasive, and too integral to the structure of each of his films, for me to ignore. To wit: in a Lawrence Kasdan film, no one is unhappy who does not want to be; no problems are such that they cannot be overcome with a little willpower, a moment of recognition, or (most often) a relationship with the right person; the right person, inevitably, is someone who shares your likes and/or dislikes (such as long hot showers and the NBA Celtics teams of the 1980s), and given such a foundation any fundamental differences are inconsequential.

In this framework, in "Mumford" we are presented with a psychologist of the same name, practicing in a town of the same name, albeit in a somewhat unconventional fashion: he is prone to revealing his patients' confessions to other patients, to romantic morning walks with one particular patient, etc. He is, in short, not actually a psychologist at all, and it is this deception that provides the closest thing to real conflict that this film has to offer. Certainly, Dr. "Mumford"'s patients don't provide any: one (very wealthy) man's loneliness is instantly cured by an introduction to Mumford's downstairs neighbor; a teenaged girl suffering from a marginal case of anorexia is healed by a romance with a classmate; said classmate's mother, suffering from a pathological acquisition syndrome, frees herself from an oppressive relationship with an acquisitive investment banker to start up a presumably healthier one with the local hardware salesman, who is in turn saved from the predations of his own sexual fantasies; and, most centrally, a chronically exhausted blond waif is saved by a relationship with Mumford himself.

The network of relationships, and the mild, largely superficial psychological problems they (without exception) serve to overcome, is completely contrived, served up as it is with a minimum of difficulty, of disagreement, of human conflict. This is a movie to watch and feel good about. Mumford's deception, a violation of a most fundamental sort for his patients, is here treated lightly and forgiven instantly. Where there is no pain, there is no joy, and no struggle, no release, and just so this movie, for all its feel-goodism, rolls off too easily. Put in a minimum of effort, and be rewarded accordingly with a modicum of entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes building a happy self takes awhile...
Review: I wanted to see "Mumford" in the theater because Hope Davis is one of my favorite actresses (Next Stop Wonderland), but it didn't work out so I did the next bext thing...or maybe the better thing because now I can watch the film more than once for no extra charge...I bought the DVD.

This is a wonderful story about a young man named Mumford (Loren Dean), a recovered drug addict now psychologist practicing in the small town of Mumford. His past is not the plot, only a part of the explanation for personality.

When we first see Dr. Mumford, he is with a patient with a secret fantasy life. We meet many of his patients, who all improve by the end of the film, making the film somewhat like "Pleasantville" except not quite so impossible. Everything that happens in Mumford could happen, but might not all happen in the same small town on or about the same day. Or then it might, if the patients involved had Mumford as a therapist.

Hope Davis plays a young woman suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome that is sapping her strength and making her every move exhausting. She's divorced and has returned to her home towm of Mumford, where she is living with her parents. Her father brings her to see Dr. Mumford and his unique personality and methods help. For ethical reasons, psychologists are not supposed to fall in love with their patients, or if they do should break off therapy. Mumford's attraction to Hope Davis causes him some trouble, but it's only one of the many problems has to solve.

The movie is filled with wonderful characters played by fine actors. In fact, as a fan of BBC productions I was very impressed by the acting abilities of this mostly American cast. Well, it might be mostly American, those Brits have our accents down pat so I can never tell.

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes building a happy self takes awhile...
Review: I wanted to see "Mumford" in the theater because Hope Davis is one of my favorite actresses (Next Stop Wonderland), but it didn't work out so I did the next bext thing...or maybe the better thing because now I can watch the film more than once for no extra charge...I bought the DVD.

This is a wonderful story about a young man named Mumford (Loren Dean), a recovered drug addict now psychologist practicing in the small town of Mumford. His past is not the plot, only a part of the explanation for personality.

When we first see Dr. Mumford, he is with a patient with a secret fantasy life. We meet many of his patients, who all improve by the end of the film, making the film somewhat like "Pleasantville" except not quite so impossible. Everything that happens in Mumford could happen, but might not all happen in the same small town on or about the same day. Or then it might, if the patients involved had Mumford as a therapist.

Hope Davis plays a young woman suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome that is sapping her strength and making her every move exhausting. She's divorced and has returned to her home towm of Mumford, where she is living with her parents. Her father brings her to see Dr. Mumford and his unique personality and methods help. For ethical reasons, psychologists are not supposed to fall in love with their patients, or if they do should break off therapy. Mumford's attraction to Hope Davis causes him some trouble, but it's only one of the many problems has to solve.

The movie is filled with wonderful characters played by fine actors. In fact, as a fan of BBC productions I was very impressed by the acting abilities of this mostly American cast. Well, it might be mostly American, those Brits have our accents down pat so I can never tell.

Rating:
Summary: great stuff
Review: I'm very impressed how Loren Dean was able to create such a likable three dimensional character in this film. Although the one "villainess" in the town is more or less unexamined, the psyches of the various townsfolk and the main character's exploration of them make for fascinating and insightful fare. Dr. Mumford is a person I would love to know. This movie struck me as one that would be difficult to end without either being disappointing and sad or falsely sweet, and the director/writer struck just the right balance.

Rating:
Summary: great stuff
Review: I'm very impressed how Loren Dean was able to create such a likable three dimensional character in this film. Although the one "villainess" in the town is more or less unexamined, the psyches of the various townsfolk and the main character's exploration of them make for fascinating and insightful fare. Dr. Mumford is a person I would love to know. This movie struck me as one that would be difficult to end without either being disappointing and sad or falsely sweet, and the director/writer struck just the right balance.