We all know anxious parents who hover over their darlings, afraid to expose
them to possible rejection, pain or other learning
experiences. Director Salomé Breziner takes this basic device and
stretches it to absurd lengths as she brings this USA-sponsored entry to
the 2014 Seattle International Film Festival.
The cast:
- Nia Vardalos ("I Hate Valentine's Day") is Maggie.
No one can ever say this single mother doesn't LOVE her son. She is
terrified that he might miss out on college because of cost, so among
other strategies, she has submitted his name for a gay college
scholarship.
- Jason Dolley (Lots of TV) is Lloyd. You
might say this beleaguered fellow is a bit non-plussed by that
scholarship application, since everything about it is a
surprise!
- Mark Boone Junior ("Sons of Anarchy") is Max, the fellow we realize is Lloyd's dead-beat father.
I found this contrived screenplay insulting to gays, parents, teachers, and the audience. The humor is anatomical and absurd,
Maggie is annoying and repugnant, while
Max
is a parody: a former flower-child stoner, but even HE has more common
sense than that idiotic mom. To watch some- one who is utterly tone deaf
to her effect on others is NOT funny! We could only pity the poor son and
writhe in embarrassment for him as we waited for this thing to be over.
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