SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: Day 4

Love is in the air

A slightly relaxed day at Sundance, if that’s ever possible. No interviews scheduled, so it was time to just check out a few films and not a bad one in the bunch. Maybe I’m more tolerant this year but it seems that there’s less to complain about.

Pumpkin, my first screening of the day, has had a mixed response here, but its satiric elements drew me in. I loved it.

Giving a phenomenal performance, Christina Ricci, who also co-produced, stars as Carolyn, a member of one of those silly American sororities. Her sorority sisters set their sights on the Sorority of the Year award, coaching challenged athletes is their ticket to the trophy. But when the queen of formals finds herself mentoring Pumpkin (Hank Harris), a disabled athlete, their two worlds collide and Carolyn begins to realise her own imperfections.

Pumpkin is partly a love story, but it is also an entertaining and at times very funny satire on social class distinctions defined by this most peculiar of American traditions. Carolyn believes that her world is all smiles and surface perfection, until she meets someone who sees the woman within.

Ricci is a consummate actress, both brilliantly funny and poignant, able to convey an emotional depth rare in someone so young.

Hank Harris is wonderful in the title role, delivering a performance that falls short of being stereotypical, and works wonders with face and eyes. As his overprotective mother, Brenda Blethyn shines.

That was followed by another fine comedy up for competition, Cherish, a popular film at Sundance for good reason. In a star-turning performance, Robin Tunney is magnificent as loner Zoe Adler. While dreaming of romance, she spends her time endlessly embracing the sounds of 80s romantic songs on KXCH "Cherish" radio.

While on a date, having downed 3 martinis, she is carjacked and manages to run down and kill a cop. The carjacker escapes and she is blamed. While awaiting trial, Zoe is imprisoned using an electronic bracelet program, and slowly goes from nerd to strong and self-assured, while also falling for her local bracelet officer.

Finn Taylor, best known for Dream with the Fishes, has crafted an exquisite blend of audacious romantic comedy with thriller, and the result is a frenetic and wildly exuberant romp, featuring a glorious female lead, and delightful support by the diverse Tim Blake Nelson and a hilarious cameo by Jason Priestley.