Art House (2000) Rating: 4.0 stars out of 5.0 stars
Cast: Dan O'Donahue, Chris Hardwick, Amy Weber, Adam Carolla, Michael A. Goorjian, Luigi Amodeo, Cheryl Pollak Written by: Leigh Slawner and Dan O'Donahue Directed by: Leigh Slawner Running Time: 88 minutes
True independent films rarely seem to work because they're always completely disjointed and so darn serious about whatever their subject is. Art House comes along as a very pleasant surprise when I was just expecting another sloppy mess of depressing ideas.
Dan O'Donahue stars (he also co-wrote the script) as Ray McMichael, a writer-director whose previous effort called Beach House (he wanted to make the best film in the worst genre) was unable to find a distributor. He's written a new script called Art House, which he gives to his hipster friend Weston (Chris Hardwick) to do a rewrite. During all this, Ray tries to find love, is forced to room with a porno actor (Luigi Amodeo), and hangs out with an new acting superstar (Michael A. Goorjian from SLC Punk!)... the usual life of someone in an independent film of course.
Art House is smartly written and the performances are engaging. While the film contains all the randomness and familiar situations of most indie films (characters hang out in a cyber cafe, talk about the Hollywood system being evil, have pointless conversations about The Cartoon Network, etc.), it's tied together cohesively enough to be not only entertaining but also very funny. At one point, in response to the popularity of swing music, Ray tells his ex-girlfriend that it'll only be six months until a new bandwagon is jumped on and the film "Breakin' 3:Cosmic Jubilee" is made. It's a great line, and it even has a pay off joke later in the movie. Even the obligitory indie film cameo from porn star Ron Jeremy is well done.
Dan O'Donahue's character is refreshingly original... he's a ordinary guy with a good head on his shoulders. Several times in the film his character is faced with a choice, and while the majority of movies would have him making the wrong one, Art House does it right. Donahue and Michael A. Goorjain (who gives a good performance as an big shot actor who knows he's actually talentless) should be faces to watch for in the future. Even Chris Hardwick and Adam Carolla (both from MTV, among other things) do fine jobs.
To make this film even more intriguing, I discovered during my research that Leigh Slawner and Dan O'Donahue actually MADE the movie Beach House back in 1995. So if what I read was correct and not just a clever internet marketing ploy, the film receiving constant mention in Art House actually exists... it's a genuine full-length movie and was indeed unable to find a distributor. That's got to be a first. Very clever guys... I applaud you. And now I really want to see Beach House, which must be the Citizen Kane of beach party movies.
Art House is available on VHS as a part of Hollywood Video's "First Rites" program. Hollywood Video is now distributing low budget indie films exclusively to its rental stores. The video includes an entertaining introduction from the director as he wanders the aisles of a local Hollywood Video trying to get people to rent his film.
So the next time you're at Hollywood Video and you're convinced you've seen everything on the new release wall but aren't sure if you'll like that independent film you've passed by six times now... take my word for it. If you like low-key, smart, and entertaining comedies then pick up that copy of Art House. [R]
Reviewed by Chuck Dowling - chuckd21@fdn.com The Jacksonville Film Journal - http://www.jaxfilmjournal.com/
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