Lillard Shows Off Softer Side (November 22, 2009)

[ChrisReid]

WeAreMovieGeeks has posted a review of the new Matthew Lillard movie, Spooner. The film has not yet had a wide release, but it's been featured in numerous film festivals this year. Maniac plays a character about to turn 30 and be evicted from his parents' house. As he nears the deadline, he finds a girl and the story goes from there. A trailer is available [url="http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2009/11/sliff-2009-review-spooner"]here. Preview reports have been generally positive so far. In real life, Lillard is actually 39 with another birthday coming in January.

"Facing eviction from his parent's home on his 30th birthday, a socially awkward guy meets the girl of his dreams and creates his own rules for growing up."

Matthew Lillard (SCREAM, THIR13EN GHOSTS) plays the lovable loser Herman Spooner, but everyone just calls him “Spooner”. Herman, I mean… Spooner, lives at home. He’s about to turn the big 3-0 and his parents have put their collective foot(s) down and set a deadline. HermanSpooner is to move out on his own by the time he turns 30. For Spooner, who is less than stellar at his job as a used car salesman, working under the oppressive regime of his prick boss Stan Manfretti (Shea Whigham) is anything but accommodating to his situation.

Facing unemployment and homelessness, Spooner happens to meet Rose Conlin (Nora Zehetner) stranded on the side of the road after her car breaks down. Being the good-natured person that he is, Spooner stops to help Rose with her car but ends up quickly smitten with her and embarks on a hopeless pursuit of what he believes to be true love. Despite all the crap that is thrown his way,Spooner still somehow manages to keep his cool and remain mostly positive.

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Original update published on November 22, 2009

 

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Lillard is an interesting actor... appart from his late 90's stoner typecasting. He recently played a greasy butler of sorts on one of the Law and Orders including a creepy mustache.

Interestingly I actually found his performance a lot more nuanced in the WC movie rough cut that I had previously thought. I don't know if it was just the ADR or the trimming and editing that took out some of the contextual dialogue and extra frames with needed body language but I actually liked his performance a lot more.

I actually found the oposite with Freddie Prinze Jr. though. Some of Freddies scenes were good, but without music and clean-up and ADR, I can't say I liked his casting any more than before. That's not to say I hate it, I actually don't mind him in the role... could have been better but it's not as awful as people seem to think.

I actually heard about Spooner something like two years ago... I'm surprised has had at least some kind of release yet.