How a dummy can bring its owner to life and its viewers to tears
By Evelyn Barge
Staff Writer
There’s something to be said for an actor who is able to play the role of a heart-wrenchingly realistic holocaust survivor and then turn around and stun the audience as a painfully shy ventriloquist on a mission to find love. Actor Adrien Brody has definitely convinced this viewer of his amazing range of acting skills. Of course, his memorable role in the film “The Pianist” won him an Academy Award and a prime spot on Hollywood’s It-List, but the newly released film “Dummy” offers a glimpse of the kind of comedic muscles Brody can flex.
As Steven Schoichet, a clerk from New Jersey, Brody is a stereotypical everyman. He’s stuck in a dead end job, still lives with his parents and is trying to accomplish an improbable dream. The dream? Brody’s character is inspired to take up ventriloquism when he watches an old film in which the hunky main man uses a ventriloquist act to woo the leading lady. It sounds dorky. And it is. But that’s what makes this film and Brody’s character so endearing.
Venturing into a local magic shop, Schoichet procures the object of his desire: a proper dummy with which to practice. Of course, Brody is learning ventriloquism right alongside his character so the difficulty of talking without moving your lips is obvious. His parents dismiss his new “friend,” who he takes nearly everywhere, with laughter.
Amazingly, the dummy helps Schoichet break free from his super-shy personality into one that is only slightly less painful to watch. He is even able to do something that he obviously has never done before: ask a woman out. Still, it’s hard not to grimace when he brings the dummy on his first date with love interest and employment counselor Lorena (played by the lovely Vera Farmiga). I’d hate to reveal too much about the relationship that ensues between the two, but “Dummy” is a romantic comedy after all.
Brody’s wonderful performance aside, if you need another reason to see this movie you’ll find it in Schoichet’s sidekick Fangora, played by model-turned-actress Milla Jovovich. Previously limited to cameo roles in popcorn movies, her character in “Dummy” is a far cry from the heavily scripted Katinka Ingabogovinanana in “Zoolander.”
Jovovich gives a hysterical and emotional performance as a hyper punk rock singer who would give anything to get on stage. Jovovich’s character looks wildly different from how audiences are used to seeing her: as a made-up spokesmodel or sexy movie vixen.
Fangora is unkempt and downright scruffy with a hard-rocker attitude. Rounding out the star power of this quirky independent film is Illeana Douglas. Douglas plays Schoichet’s sister who, like Schoichet, is stuck with a job she doesn’t want. Her real desire is to be a singer, but a fiancé fiasco and lack of support from her family put her dreams on the backburner. Douglas’ role is a bit trite and has been used before countless times, but her ranting and raving more than make up for the clichés.
Director and screenwriter Greg Pritkin is deserving of the praise he has received for this screen gem. “Dummy” stays true to its independent roots and is refreshingly free of one-liners. In fact, the movie is amusing mostly because the characters are so unique and funny all by themselves. Pritkin’s skills keep each of the characters’ stories intertwined just enough so that they all come together for the big finish. Like most movies of this kind, some moments are just too sugary-sweet.
And of course the movie can’t end without a perfect Hollywood finish. Though the ending has predictable moments, it’s still tastefully done and I’ll guarantee you won’t see one big surprise coming.
Fans of independent films are sure to like this film, but it’s not just an indie lover’s movie. All kinds of audiences will laugh, maybe even cry, at “Dummy” and its amazing cast of performers. Plus, even if you don’t like the film, you’ll probably still laugh at Adrien Brody attempting to talk without moving his lips. Brody is a good actor, but he’s not much of a ventriloquist.
September 25, 2003