"My
First Mister" is a movie whose tone is at times
noticeably uneven, but it contains enough good moments--some
darkly witty, others heartfelt--that the sum of its parts
ultimately drowns out its sometimes confused narrative
structure.
With a nod toward "Harold and Maude," the story brings
together two complete opposites, not only in age but also in
lifestyle. Jennifer (Leelee Sobieski) is a recent high school
graduate whose fear of the world around her is masked beneath a
rebellious blockade of richly dark facial makeup and mostly
black clothing. "Not all my
clothes are black," she muses. "Some of them are
blue. Sometimes I wear them together so I look like a
bruise." Her face is a variegated array of piercings,
evoking thoughts of someone falling down a flight of stairs
carrying a tackle box or one who can manage
to whistle five different tunes while riding a bicycle.
(Yeah, I know those jokes aren't exactly original, but I like
them and besides, where else could I rehash them?) She
possesses a distinct flair for the written word, and is
constantly scribing thoughts in her journal; a gothic "Bridget
Jones," you might say. ("I remember playing doctor
with by childhood best friend. He mistook my anus for my vagina
and took my temperature with a fire engine red crayon. To this
day, I can't hear a siren
without giggling.")
On
the opposite end of the spectrum is Randall (Albert Brooks), a
forty-nine year old manager of a conservative men's clothing
store. He lives his life strictly by the numbers. Tailoring
things to fit is his life's goal; few distractions are granted
access into his everyday existence. His comfort level reaches
disquieting proportions, as his immediate surroundings are
perpetually kept at arm's length. A pair of obvious social opposites,
Jennifer and Randall do share one thing in common: their fear of
the environment in which they were dropped.
Jennifer
makes the first move, asking Randall for a
job and fantasizing about what it'd be like to actually have a
"lover"; to refer to him using that word which until
now has been a mystery to her. After some much-needed
convincing, he offers her work that restricts her to the
stockroom. As their trust in each other grows, truths are
revealed and an unusual friendship is struck. At first we wonder
if the relationship will nod toward the physical, but it
actually ventures into another direction; a more vital one
for these individuals ... it becomes a much-needed outlet for
their hopes and insecurities.
"Mister"
is the feature film debut of actor-turned-director Christine
Lahti, whose performances include marvelous turns in "The
Doctor" and "Running on Empty," as well as a
five-year stint on television's "Chicago Hope." Her
short film "Lieberman in Love" earned her an Academy
Award. The movie contains both sharp humor and moments of
intentionally over-the-top emotional sentiment, and while
navigating between the conflicting elements is at times a bit
bumpy, the messages pulled from Jill Franklyn's intelligent
screenplay did manage to win me over.
Leelee Sobieski ("Here on Earth,"
"Joyride"), as
naturally attractive a young star as any these days, sports a
totally new look here. Much to my surprise, she's very
believable as an insecure young girl whose personality is
intimately bound to the macabre. Albert
Brooks ("Lost in America," "Defending Your
Life")
continues to be a refreshing screen presence, effortlessly
meshing his own brand of humor with a charming uncertainty of
the reasons behind his actions.
Because we're able to accept their quirks immediately,
we're able to understand and appreciate their need to break free
of them as the movie progresses.
"My
First Mister" didn't overwhelm me as much as made
me appreciate what it brought to the table. Perhaps
that's the way I was supposed to react, as the movie's lessons
are not unlike those of life. Essentially, it's a collection of
strange, funny, sad, and silly moments; and a few of
them--unusual as they may be--are the keys to solace, beckoning
us to notice.
