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Watson (Wendy Hoopes) has moved from the city with the Volvo her mother convinced her to buy and the dream of becoming a published writer. Her mother, however, in a manner entirely inconvenient to her daughter, decides she can no longer help with the Volvo payments. Watson works for a while, sitting in a cubicle and handing in written reports about insurance or some such thing, basically moving papers from pile to pile across her desk. It is when she decides that she must devote herself full-time to her writing that she realizes her car and some other creature comforts may require some sacrifice.

Watson is surrounded by a cast of colorful characters from best friend to supportive ex-boyfriend. Her adventures include a brief stint as a purveyor of phone sex and a running flirtation (she thinks) with the guy who scans her groceries. Not much happens plot-wise, but we want to continue with the character to see where she takes us next. She's not goofy, just young. She makes the best decisions she can until she knows better. Luckily, her bad choices make for some good comedy. I found myself laughing more and more with the character along her twisted path.

This appears to be the first film for writer and director Jennifer B. Katz. Her strength is in the character stuff and comedy driven by character choices. There is some funny dialogue, too, but I found the same old thing surprisingly refreshing in her hands, as well as the hands of her able cast.

Wendy Hoopes brings Watson a lovable nature that serves her well in quirkier moments. You may not recognize her face just yet, but she voices several characters on "Daria," including Jane Lane and Quinn. I hope to see her in front of the camera more often, as she is relatable and truly, uniquely funny.

I would warn you if this was just another case of a writer/director doing the same old thing with a post-college, angst-driven comedy. While there are familiar elements of such, there is also a fresh approach that is worth the gamble of a watch, if you care to risk it.

This film is available for download or online viewing, along with hundreds of other titles, for just $9.95 per month from http://www.cinemanow.com

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originally posted: 03/04/04 13:32:51
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