Genres

Visitors Review

Ella Taylor 2012-05-25 11:42:39

Brody ... is the movie's weakest link, turning in a performance almost as wooden as the doll that sits on his knee.

2012-05-25 06:05:09

Brilliant

Writer/Director Greg Pritkin's formula for a brilliant comedy is so simple you wonder why it is not being widely copied. You write a quality screenplay, assemble an ensemble of very strong actors, turn this cast loose to slightly overplay each of your quirky characters, and find a quality editor to creatively assemble the film.Of course writing or finding a screenplay this good is not easy nor is assembling a dream cast like this one. Getting Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich, Illeana Douglas, Vera Farmiga, and Jared Harris to play your five main characters is almost unparalleled. All are extremely strong actors who were attracted to this quirky project because Pritkin was willing to turn them loose to play off each other. Because each character in "Dummy" is at least slightly off-kilter these over-the-top performances achieve a wonderful balance.The cast has a Ukrainian favor, with Jovovich and Farmiga. Milla plays a hilarious role totally unlike anything you have seen from her (although there are similarities to her "Zoolander" character). The "R" rating is solely due to Milla's language much of which is simply the funniest swearing in film history. Vera is absolutely fantastic as the guest at the family dinner table-less extreme yet funnier than the family dinner scene in the "The Nutty Professor". Jovovich's line about doing the "hora" refers to a dance frequently done at Jewish weddings. If you want to do it at your own wedding here are some instructions: 1. Stand in a circle holding the hands of the people on either side of you. 2. When the music starts, follow the circle as it rotates. 3. Step to the side, passing your left foot behind your right. 4. Move the right foot beside the left foot. 5. Step to the side again, passing your left foot in front of your right this time. 6. Continue as the circle keeps spinning, adding a little hop to your steps as you go faster. 7. Move toward the center of the circle and throw your hands, still holding those of the people beside you, in the air. 8. Lower your hands and move backward. 9. Repeat several times. 10. Resume spinning around the circle. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

2012-05-21 22:56:55

What a loving movie!!!

I just bought the movie from a former rental for $4.99. What a loving movie! Adrien Brody make a loving act as Steven, a shy wimp with a heart of gold. He lives with his crazed parents and his sour hearted sister Heidi (Ileana Douglas). Steven (Brody) hates his job and his boss reminds me of Meryl Streep in The Devils Wears Prada. So in a impulse, he bought a wooden dummy that becomes his alter ego and his concience. While he learns to talk without moving his lips, Steven is talking to the dummy and the dummy answers him back in a psycologic point of view. It seams that the dummy wants to help Steven using foul language and harsh love. Or is Steven talking to himself? And then the dummy began to talk the words that Steven doesn't dare to say to anybody!! That moves his job couselor, Lorena (Vera Farmiga) that seams to have issues by her own. Milla Jojovich is Steven best friend, did a great job as a real nut case, hard punk rocker who sings lovely in yiddish at the end of the movie. While this is low budget movie, it has a touching but deep simplicity that lacks multi-million motion pictures. Just follow your bliss and buy this movie. I'm glad I did!

darjeeling_myworld 2012-05-21 05:32:52

An underrated but brilliant movie (possible spoilers)

I bought this movie really cheap as a fan of Adrian Brody and VeraFarmiga and to be honest wasn't expecting much. But I was pleasantlysurprised to find one of the funniest and most moving films I have seenin a long time. It's a strange little film but brilliantly acted byeveryone involved - Brody was stunning (his video to Vera Farmiga'scharacter "i'm not used to people being nice to me" had me close totears and not many movies do that to me) and it's easy to see why he'san established Oscar winning actor now. He has such a raw likabilityand the script makes sure we are always on his side. Vera Farmiga wasalso excellent but I was most impressed by the supporting cast - MillaJovovich, Illeana Douglas and Jared Harris were wonderful. It's a shortfilm and moves along at a cracking and funny pace, I was annoyed as myDVD had a scratch on and it jumped so I missed a small bit - the pointi'm making is that I liked this movie so much i'm gonna go out and buyit again 'cos I lost the receipt! The only flaw I think it has is theending when Steven throws his voice - I thought it was very far fetchedand the fight he then has was quite badly filmed - the camera didn'tfind its place. It also becomes a bit over sentimental because this wassurprisingly a movie with a lot of dark themes and I expected theending to make a bigger thing of them. Other than that though, the bestmovie I have seen in ages and I would recommend it to anyone!

gpadillo 2012-05-18 02:26:33

"Better an unwed mother than just unwed!"

Dummy takes a simple premise - a man pushing 30 still living with hisparents and unable to assert himself professionally, romantically orsocially. After being fired he decides to go for his dream - to becomea ventriloquist. The most amazing side effect of working with a dummyis Steven develops an edge to his otherwise bland character and lifetakes on a whole new direction.Egged on by his best friend the punk, Fangora, a foul-mouthed, stridentloser in her own right played with zero charm by Milla Jovovich, Steventakes risks that sound like bad ideas to him - and prove to be justthat.Steven's not the only loser at home, his older sister - a hilariouslydeadpan Ileana Douglas - gave up her own dream of becoming a singer.It's easy to see where the this pair of siblings lack of self esteemcomes from once we meet Mom and Dad. The entire family could easilyfall into the realm of stereotype or caricature, but Jessica Walter andRon Liebman make this material fresh and hilarious. When Steven inviteshis potential paramour, a single mother, to a family dinner, theresults are, predictably, outrageously funny.There is a love story woven into Dummy, but ultimately it's Steven'sjourney of self-awareness and acceptance that is the heart of thisstory and that impresses the most. A fun, fun ride.

blackitty2 2012-05-17 15:51:30

The Best Movie You Never Heard Of -- WATCH IT TODAY!

It's a pity that Brody's award winning acting in "The Pianist"overshadowed what I think was the best performance of his career sofar, as the romantically clueless and vocationally strange Steven in"Dummy". The film is just as captivating as "The Pianist", but intotally different ways. Brody completely inhabits of the body, mind,and soul of Steven -- and his dummy -- surrounded by an amazing castthat seems tailor made for each part. The film also includes some ofthe most subtle and hilarious comedic situations ever. (If you enjoyWes Anderson or Coen Brothers style humor, then this will be a treat).Brody's Steven is sweet, disturbing, funny, shy and sometimes bravewith amazing skill and believability. You feel yourself rooting for himdespite all odds. He's a lovable loser that you want to win the girl atlast, and I promise he'll be your favorite ventriloquist by the end ofthe film. If you have an appetite for a unique, well-made movie torestore your faith in movies (and actors) rent "Dummy" tonight.

2012-05-16 15:34:12

MILLA JOVOVICH had me LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!!

Dummy is a charming little movie about a quiet loser played by Adrien Brody who dreams of being a ventriloquist. The story revolves around Steven's (Brody) life, his relationships, his family, his future and his hilarious friend FANGORA (Milla Jovovich).The movie is off the beaten path, unique, subtle, quiet and a throw back to those simple little movies from the 80s that weren't about a whole lot, but were just enjoyable. And I assure you, after watching DUMMY, you WILL NOT forget it.You will talk about it with your friends and YOU WILL LAUGH!!The movie is gifted with memorable and rich characters. Illeana Douglas, Vera Farmiga, Jessica Walter & Ron Leibman are a big part of this, but the most memorable, hilarious and unforgettable role belongs to MILLA JOVOVICH.Milla plays an ill-tempered punk rock chick with a heart of gold and a mouth like a sailor. Milla had me in stitches and I believe that a lot of her acting was improvised. She was into this character and EARNS SOME SERIOUS BROWNIE POINTS for future more meatier roles. She steals the show.What was already a pretty good movie anyway, was made an exceptional movie by a HOMERUN performance by an actress that is getting better, better and better. This girl has MONGO GUTS, and it shows.Check out DUMMY. If you like to laugh. You won't go wrong.I normally reserve 5 stars for classics, but this barely recognized little movie deserves 5 stars, for what it is, what it accomplished and for making me laugh where hundreds of more commercial comedies failed miserably.

moonspinner55 2012-05-15 22:47:16

Unexpectedly life-affirming...

Adrien Brody is quietly wonderful as an unemployed nebbish in his latetwenties who stills lives with his parents and has a fascination withventriloquism; he finally buys a dummy of his own and practices thecraft he's dreamed about, yet also realizes (via his new woodencompanion) that it may be time to start growing up. Greg Pritikin wroteand directed this low-budget satire of suburban craziness, and seems toharbor an affection for bughouse characters all living on the edge. Itisn't an original vision (Hal Hartley was mining this dryly eccentricterritory 10 years ago), but it's still surprising how successfullyPritikin manages to pull this intentionally bumpy story together. MillaJovovich is initially off-putting playing Brody's friend, afoul-mouthed garage rocker, but when she gets her band a job playingklesmer songs at a wedding--and immerses herself in the Jewishlanguage--she reveals an appealing, sassy side that totally fits intoPritikin's offbeat universe. Illeana Douglas and Vera Farmiga are alsovery fine, and though the construction of the script iscaricature-oriented, most of these actors overcome the slight material,revealing something unexpected in the process: a sunny story aboutweirdos that ultimately celebrates humanity. **1/2 from ****

Kevin Thomas 2012-05-09 23:21:42

A romantic comedy of considerable charm and humor.

RSewell502 2012-05-09 17:27:34

Brilliant - one of my top 5 films of all time

I really liked the quirky humour and though Adrien Brody's acting wasastonishing, the ensemble playing and the interplay of dummy and peoplewas what made the film work for me. I am an ignorant English Quaker andI had a simple question for the director or Adrien or any otherAmerican viewers. Is Adrien's character meant to represent aspecifically Jewish character, or is the film, as I suspect, moreuniversal in its design?I teach 11-16 year olds and have written books on mainstreamingchildren with special needs. I may have read the movie all wrong, butto me the humour brought alive all the hassle that children withAsperger's Syndrome have, trying to communicate their ideas andfeelings to an uncomprehending world. My old school has one of the bestrecords in UK for bringing children on the autistic spectrum out ofspecial schools into ordinary classrooms and get great results forthem. It takes real love for the staff to help the other children treatthem with the kind of respect they need to show their proper talents.The anguish in Adrien's eyes was met with perfect friendship and lovein his sister and girl friends and I thought that it was this thathelped him reveal his true talents. I have never filled in a comments box like this before and I only do sobecause Dummy is one of my all time favourite moviesRespect

2012-05-09 03:35:34

Delightful find, barring the DVD errors

I had been meaning to see this for quite some time, as I missed it in the 3 theaters it played in. I'm glad to report that the movie is every bit as charming as I had hoped!I regret to concur with the other reviews that state this DVD is incorrectly labelled as a widescreen release. The copy I rented from Blockbuster said "widescreen" on the disc, but was in fact full-screen, with the sides of the frame choppped off.If I can find a widescreen copy, I will definitely buy this.

2012-05-08 10:23:06

Brody & Co. Shine in Twentysomething Coming-of-Age Tale

DUMMY, one of Adrien Brody's two shelved indies that finally made it to theaters after he won his PIANIST Oscar, is much more likable and watchable than the other one, LOVE THE HARD WAY (about which I've groused at length elsewhere on Amazon.com). TV GUIDE ONLINE critic Maitland McDonagh described this quirky young-adults-coming-of-age comedy as "repetitive and obvious but somehow endearing, like a truly ugly dog with sweet eyes," and I pretty much agree with her assessment. This Long Island-based story of a pair of twentysomething siblings still living at home with their annoying, critical parents (real-life spouses Jessica Walter and Ron Leibman are so convincing as Mom and Dad, it's scary!) while trying to find their respective paths to independence could have been shrill and tiresome, and at times it teeters dangerously close to being so. Luckily, the superb leads bring a gentle, non-cloying sweetness and poignancy to their performances that makes you keep watching and rooting for them. That's saying quite a bit when you consider that the road to full-tilt adulthood for brother Steven (Brody) involves honing his ventriloquism skills (Brody learned ventriloquism for his role, and he does a good job! I wonder if Brody drops such acquired-for-a-role skills once the movie wraps, or if he keeps them honed just for fun?) with a rather unnerving, unnamed dummy (not to keep digressing, but with such rare exceptions as Charlie McCarthy, aren't most ventriloquist's dummies rather unnerving? :-) as he woos Lorena, his employment counselor (enchantingly played by Vera Farmiga), who's got issues of her own. High-strung sister Heidi (Illeana Douglas) has given up her dream of becoming a singer to forge a career as a wedding planner. She's got her work cut out for her, what with an inept stalker ex-fiance (Jared Harris) dogging her every move, her first major professional assignment turning out to be a Jewish wedding where the bride insists on klezmer music, and not owning her own car; the scenes where Heidi has to beg their mom for the car are both funny and painful. Adding to all this anxiety-laced wackiness is Steven's high school pal Fangora, née Fanny (Milla Jovovich), an aspiring punk rocker and all-around nutty chick who claims she can play klezmer music so she'll get the wedding gig, as well as giving Steven well-meant but questionable advice on how to win Lorena's heart, such as spray-painting a message on Lorena's front door. Fortunately, in writer/director Greg Pritikin's world, even restraining orders and omnipresent ventriloquist's dummies can't block the path to love and happiness for long, and everyone gets what they deserve. Brody and Douglas are particularly well-cast; with their attractively angular faces, almond-shaped green eyes, and overall air of angst, they make very convincing siblings. Jovovich is hilarious, especially in the running gag where she and her punk band practice their klezmer numbers. Between DUMMY and ZOOLANDER, it's clear that Jovovich has a flair for comedy. I hope she gets more chances to keep her funny side up! You budding Edgar Bergens and Jay Johnsons may be interested in the ventriloquist lessons included amongst the DVD's extras.

critic67 2012-05-05 18:16:45

Beautiful, just beautiful.

Greg Pritikins film is a delight from start to finish. Whilst obviouslyshoton a limited budget, Pritikin brings such warmth & love to his movie, thatfrom the first few notes of the soundtrack you just know you are in for atreat.Adrien Brody is charming, whilst Milla Jovovich is a revelation - herperformance is a testament to both her ability as an actress & Pritikin'sflair as a director.A wonderful, jewel of a movie.

rosscinema 2012-05-05 04:43:02

A very commercial independent film

You have to ask yourself why a young filmmaker with a script butwithout backing from a major studio would write and direct a filmthat's totally devoid of any sense of surprise or original thought. Iask this because this effort is an example of independent film-makingat it's worst because it's trying to gain an audience by going the easyroute of being predictable. Story is about a totally pathetic losernamed Steven (Adrien Brody) who's 28 and lives with his parents and oneday decides to quit his loser job and become a ventriloquist.*****SPOILER ALERT***** Steven has one friend in the kooky and quirkyFangoria "Fanny" Gurkel (Milla Jovovich) who when she's not supportingSteven's job changes also sings in a garage band. Steven buys a dummyand practices at home which not only irritates his parents but hissister Heidi (Illeana Douglas) as well since she lives at home too.Steven goes to a temp service to try and get gigs as a ventriloquistand his case worker turns out to be a very pretty woman named Lorena(Vera Farmiga) and it takes some hard urging by Fanny to get him totalk to her. Even though Lorena had to call the cops on Steven forspray painting a message on her front door she eventually starts todate him but eventually it dawns on her that a relationship withsomeone like him wouldn't work out.This is only the second feature from writer/director Greg Pritikin butyou can't help but think he's made this for the sole reason of tryingto get the attention of the Hollywood studios. On one hand his scriptis lukewarm and has has nothing special going for it but on the otherhand Pritikin shows that as a director he can make a dumb romanticcomedy as bad as the major studios can...and continue to do so!Everything in this script fails to be believable and the so-calledromance between Brody and Farmiga is ridiculously preposterousespecially considering the fact that she had to call the cops on himfor his stupid shenanigans. Brody's character reeks with the term"stalker" but this film wants the audience to believe that not onlywould she date him but continue to laugh and giggle at everything hesays! Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in "Gigli" had more chemistry onscreen! With the exception of a few films Jovovich has been in more badmovies than I care to talk about and you can add this effort to heralready laughable resume and one has to wonder if it's just poorchoices or just accepting what little is offered to her. This film saton the shelf for awhile until Brody won his Academy Award than it wasreleased briefly in a few theaters (blink and you missed it) to try andcash in on his new found success but this is one of those half bakedefforts that fails on practically every level.

2012-04-27 19:37:00

Gently dark romantic comedy

You can read plenty of reviews that will tell you the basic plot, so I won't bother to restate it. However, the performances in "Dummy" are stellar. A pre-Pianist Adrien Brody flexes his subtle muscles as well as his heretofore uknown talents as a ventriloquist. See the film more than once, and it will grow on you. At first glance, the characters are unidimensional, but you begin to sense the subtext beneath them; frustration, intelligence, yearning, and even innocence. The story is set to scene-appropriate music by divergent talents such as Mike Ruekberg (of Minneapolis' fave Rex Daisy) and the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band. Pritikin's direction is close but not intrusive, though again the strong performances may lead some to feel a bit too uncomfortable when the characters obviously do. However, along with their pain we get to experience their joy, success, and love. A great, guy-friendly date flick, especially if you don't want to fall into the trap of a Meg Ryan Romance. The only drawback to this purchase is the lack of commentary on the DVD; evidently, a big lousy decision by the studio since reportedly the director and stars were lined up to record it. Still, a nice, tight little film and highly recommended.

2012-04-27 08:58:47

Funny... And weird in a good way!

'Dummy' is definitely not for everyone. For example, I really liked it, and my mom really didn't. Okay, maybe that's a bad example, but I thought it was really funny. 'Dummy' had twinges of rather dark humor, like 'The Royal Tenenbaums,' where you just have to laugh and say, 'Man, this guy's life sucks!'You can't help but sympathize for Brody's character and his messed-up life, where the pinnacle of his day occurs when he can play with his newfound dummy that he believes will bring him the love of his life. Well, low and behold, this dummy, who is unnamed, does, indeed, bring him the love of his life.The journey to capture that love, though, is very funny and at times painful to watch. Milla Jovovich vividly portrays Brody's friend, Fandora, a girl that is more like a guy, who thinks has all the right answers about love.Overall, this was a very funny, and often off-the-wall movie. I give it four stars!

Chris Grace 2012-04-25 09:27:46

"I look both ways before crossing the street."

Dummy is a comedy. I know this because I laughed, and it felt like Iwas supposed to.But I think I was supposed to feel something for at least one of thesecharacters as well, but I didn't.Adrien Brody is this really nerdy guy who has always wanted to be aventriloquist, but didn't get the courage to buy a dummy and try untilhe saw an old movie one day. He also has a friend (Milla Jovovitch)that's really weird and steals things a lot, and is basically there tobe some sort of comic relief and serve no other purpose, despite hercharacter providing a majority of the jokes that don't work.The movie is nothing to do jumping-jacks over, and will offer younothing more than a couple of good dummy jokes and a really hot MillaJovovitch singing really badly. The movie tries to do quite a fewthings but achieves none of them to an extent to which I would callaffective.

secondtake 2012-04-24 18:00:55

slightly off kilter, slightly black comic, slightly moving...an almost hit independent film

Dummy (2002)A fun, offbeat, somewhat frivolous charcoal gray comedy. It's hilariousin spots and touching in spots, and has some terrific acting. Theoverall scenario is a situation comedy, drawn out over the hour and ahalf, and it might have made a tighter hour long television show. Attimes it seems to really hit an eccentric tone that's terrific and evena little surreal, as with some of the family interactions, played withbeautiful deadpan steadiness. And when it's a moving romantic comedy,you appreciate the restrained, sympathetic acting of several of theleads. There isn't a bad performance in the lot of them.

Gordon-11 2012-04-20 17:06:35

An intelligent and multi-layered comedy

This film is about a talented ventriloquist and his loser life. Hefinds solace in his dummy and a girl of his dreams."Dummy" is interestingly fun and dark at the same time. Adrien Brody isgreat as a socially inept individual, he portrays timidness so well.Milla Jovovich plays an emotionally unstable rocker, and she alsoshines. The dysfunctional family interaction is eye catching. I feel sosorry for Illeana Douglas' character as she sacrificed her dreams toplease others. Somehow, these wildly different individuals'interactions form a journey of self fulfillment and happiness.I find "Dummy" an intelligent and multi-layered comedy, I think itdeserves a wider audience.

2012-04-20 14:25:04

Hey-Hey, your worth watching because of Jovovich

I really, really did not like "Dummy (2003)." There was really no aspect in this movie Plot wise and story-wise to even merit this movie worth watching all the way through. Adrien Brody isn't my favorite actor and he's really queer as Steven in this movie. The Dummy his character owned made the movie hard to watch (anyone who owns those things, are friggin' weird). The ONLY reason to watch this movie, is Milla Jovovich's character "Fangora," a jumpy, potty mouthed, woman that's in a band, who basically helps out Brody's character out of his so-called "shell" when she lands a deal with his sister to play at a wedding. Only problem is she doesn't know how to sing Yiddish so that's where Brody's character comes in. Sorta. Other than that, you can just skip through all the scenes missing Jovovich and just watch the one's that include her in it. I couldn't care less about the main character Steven and his would be romance with unemployment woman (whose name escapes me). but Fangora was really funny in this movie. Milla can really make you laugh with her oddball character if you allow her to. The end of the movie includes a last scene with her and the actor Jared Harris (Dr. Ashford in "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," which was an outstanding action movie). I give this movie 3 stars just because Jovovich is in it. [a 3 out of 5]