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Dummy

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Dummy (2003)

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Reviews Counted:10

Fresh:7

Rotten:3

Average Rating:5.8/10

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for language

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Sep 12, 2003 Limited

Synopsis: Family, friendship and romance find a voice in Dummy, the smartly offbeat and charming debut comedy from writer and director Greg Pritikin. Steven Schoichet (Adrien Brody, Academy Award® winner... Family, friendship and romance find a voice in Dummy, the smartly offbeat and charming debut comedy from writer and director Greg Pritikin. Steven Schoichet (Adrien Brody, Academy Award® winner for The Pianist) is browbeaten at every turn, by his family, his dead-end job, the faceless suburb where he still lives at home. That is until he decides to make a change. Ventriloquism. Hey, a dream’s a dream.

His family barely pays him enough attention to even dismiss the idea – his mother (Jessica Walter, Slums of Beverly Hills) is only concerned that he eat something, and his father (Ron Liebman, Tony Award® winner for “Angels In America”) only thinks of his model ships. Steven’s sister (Illeana Douglas, Grace of My Heart) recently broke off her engagement to an unstable accountant (Jared Harris, Happiness), which makes her career as a wedding planner an emotional minefield. His only supporter is neighbor Fangora (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil) – really it’s Fanny, but that’s not very punk – who has her own aspirations to stardom.

After Steven loses his job, things actually start to turn around. He falls for his counselor at the unemployment office (Vera Farmiga, Fifteen Minutes), and through the best efforts of Steven and the little friend on his knee, good things start to happen for everyone around him. A restraining order leads to new love, a rock band learns Yiddish, and everything clicks into place at somebody else’s wedding. Funny, winsome, quick-witted, and brave – this Dummy is pretty sharp. -- © Artisan Pictures [More]

Starring: Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich, Illeana Douglas, Vera Farmiga

Starring: Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich, Illeana Douglas, Vera Farmiga, Jessica Walter, Ron Liebman, Jared Harris

Director: Gregory Pritikin

Director: Gregory Pritikin
Screenwriter: Gregory Pritikin
Producer: Bob Fagan, Richard Temtchine
Composer: Paul Wallfisch
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

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Release:

Feb 17, 2004

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Reviews for Dummy

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/26/08
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Definitely lives down to its name -- you can see the lips moving on this wooden thing.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
09/26/03
Rick Groen
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
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[T]he best ventriloquist -stalker -family-drama -romantic -comedy I've seen in, well maybe forever.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
09/15/03
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Pritikin's shrewd comedy-drama catches a fine flock of family emotions on the wing, and not the over-exposed ones.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
09/12/03
Bob Campbell
Bob Campbell
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

What could have been a biting dark comedy is, instead, uninspired and generic.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
09/12/03
V.A. Musetto
V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brody is a real talent, and Illeana Douglas is a riot as his older sister.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
09/12/03
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
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A mildly engaging addition to that curious sub-genre of American independent filmmaking, the whimsical comedy of Long Island alienation.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
09/11/03
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
New York Times
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A romantic comedy of considerable charm and humor.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
09/11/03
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
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Adrien Brody rescues Greg Pritikin's self-consciously eccentric comedy.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
09/11/03
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
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Pritikin ... serves up the sort of shrill 'satire' of middle-class Jewish vulgarity in which the mere mention of words like 'brisket' and 'klezmer' is automatically presumed to be hilarious.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
09/10/03
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's no surprise that Brody, Douglas, Walter and Leibman make for one highly entertaining, if messed up, family unit, but the big revelation here is Jovovich.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
03/21/03
Michael Rechtshaffen
Michael Rechtshaffen
Hollywood Reporter
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