If you like sugar & cream with your coffee... Mumford
By Ross Anthony
On a sunny, green-grassy day in small town Mumford, a 1940's milk truck pulls up just as Dr. Mumford steps off with a patient for a little walk-talk therapy: textbook "trite." And it's just the first layer of the cake. Still, "Mumford" has plenty of good movie baked right in -- all that creamy white schmaltz just can't bog it down. In fact, the fluff kind of rises to the surface after the fact. Kind of like pleasuring yourself with the way birthday cake tastes divine while you're eating it; but then on the ride home from the party, your stomach may have a few points of its own to make.
The ads reveal a secret that ought to be held for the halfway point of the film (skip this paragraph if you don't want to know). Though he's having overwhelming success with the Mumfordonians; Dr. Mumford isn't a real psychologist. And of course, there's a love story (or two or three) thrown in for good measure.
It's a cozy film with fun characters, fine dialogue and an inspiringly warm and fuzzy theme. You won't have a bad time, though you'll want for your next flick to be one completely lacking sugar. I liked it!
Mumford. Copyright © 1999. Rated R. Starring Loren Dean, Hope Davis, Jason Lee, Alfre Woodard, Mary McDonnell. Written and Directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Produced by Charles Okun and Lawrence Kasdan at Touchstone.
Grade..........................A
-- Copyright © 1999 Ross Anthony, currently based in Los Angeles, has scripted and shot documentaries, music videos, and shorts in 35 countries across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. For more reviews visit: http://RossAnthony.com
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