Feast of Love (2007) MGM
1 hr. 45 mins.
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Toby Hemingway, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos, Selma Blair, Jane Alexander, Billy Burke, Fred Ward, Missi Pyle
Directed by: Robert Benton
This film is rated: R

Rating: ** stars (out of 4 stars)

Writer/director Robert Benton's Feast of Love is nothing but an arbitrary "snack for frivolous fondness". Benton ("Kramer vs. Kramer") wants to convey the forethought of random love that overcomes the cynical emptiness of a quaint Portland, Oregon community. However, the film never establishes a distinctive tone for why the power of love is such a mysterious concept. Instead, Feast of Love comes off as one of these bland big screen melodramas that should be showcasing its sentimental sludge on the Lifetime cable channel. For Benton, this sprawling and syrupy concoction is instantly forgettable despite a noteworthy cast trapped in the confines of a drippy script.

The theme to Feast is quite familiar as the elusive art of love is explored as it touches a group of folks at the most ambivalent moments. Somehow, the gimmicky aspect to Benton's sluggish narrative gives off trite vibes thus rendering this staid story as another toothless romancer wrapped up in quirky albeit synthetic sweetness. Feast of Love is based upon college professor/author Charles Baxter's transfixing novel. The fabric of the premise is quite interesting in terms of how a selection of dysfunctional small town residents view their hungry hearts for affection. Still, Benton never executes this format beyond its perfunctory weaving of manufactured wit and emotion.

Oscar-winning vet Morgan Freeman is back once again in "mystical observatory mode" as Harry Stevenson, a retired professor that has the luxury of overseeing the trials and tribulations of the small Oregon surroundings. Harry is the "go-to" personality that dispenses worthy advice especially when it comes to various affairs of the heart. Let's face it...Harry has his work cut out for him as his clueless cohorts are in desperate need of reviewing an ancient 70's rerun of TV's Love, American Style.

For Harry, handling his misguided coffee shop owner buddy Bradley Thomas (Greg Kinnear) in particular is a trying challenge. Bradley is under the false assumption that his marriage to Kathryn (Selma Blair) is safe and sound until he discovers that his wife is a lesbian and wants to divorce him to be with her female lover. Shortly afterwards, Bradley is blessed with meeting and falling in love with real estate agent Diana (Radha Mitchell). The problem remains is that Diana--although enjoying the company of a newly liberated Bradley--is having wild sexual encounters with a married man named David Watson (Billy Burke).

In the meanwhile, Bradley's youthful employees/friends Oscar and Chloe (Toby Hemingway and Alexa Davalos) cultivate a loving relationship. It's not long before the destitute couple engages in a moneymaking scheme to enhance their financial status (they agree to have on-camera sex) as a way of dealing with their developing bond. We cannot overlook Harry's own relationship spotlight with his wife (Jane Alexander). Basically, it's an obvious blueprint of foolish old/young love and how these lost souls are able to cope with the unpredictable wackiness that ensues.

In short, Feast of Love embellishes on that old notion that the game of love is tricky yet a satisfying state of mind once it's conquered. Curiously, there's no real texture or tension to give this sappy exposition its lyrical luster. The film delves into the annoying sea of cliched platitudes and convenient coincidences. Although the pacing is lightweight and lingering, there are a few outrageous fluffy moments that register slightly. The proceedings beg for a breezy and whimsical effect but the overall moodiness feels catastrophically stiff.

The performances are engaging at times but nothing sticks out as being vastly radical or revealing. Freeman seems to be channeling his mild-mannered mentor shtick that is getting to be too commonplace for the talented maturing actor. Freeman is too resourceful to be aping the same old one-dimensional turn as a worldly wise man figurehead. Kinnear is effective enough as the handsome yet hapless guy that's drawn to the wrong type of wayward women. Again, we've seen Kinnear's impish nature on screen before but somehow his presence is wasted in this mawkish material.

Apparently Feast of Love has a drawn out tepid taste that isn't very appetizing given the star power of its high caliber cast and noted helmer in Benton. Love may be unsteady in its many infinite stages but Feast does nothing concrete to make us embrace this uneven romancer that has all the giddy spirit of a melted box of chocolates.

Frank Ochieng
@ World Voice News (2007)