Review of Barry Munday (2010) by Jim F — 03 Mar 2011

"Barry Munday" is the story of a hapless (but sweetly sincere) slacker-doofus who loses his testicles and gains a family. Neat.

While the story is blissfully upbeat, it offers few surprises (aside from the ball-chopping incident) to anyone familiar with any other dad-to-be, self-actualization rom-com ("Knocked Up," I'm looking at you).

The film's best feature is its cast. Patrick Wilson does a terrific job creating a sympathetic balance between stammering man-boyism and earnestness within the titular Barry, and the chronically underutilized Judy Greer brings life to the dour Ginger. Jean Smart does a fine job as Barry's weary mother. But the rest of the cast's heavy-hitters (Malcom McDowell, Billy Dee Williams, Chloe Sevigny) are largely relegated to the background as foils for the bumbling Barry. Cameos by Kyle Gass and Mae Whitman provide great nerd fodder, but are over too quickly.

My biggest gripe with "Barry" is its many unanswered questions (What WAS that girl's father doing at the theater? WHY did he have that trumpet? What WAS the Asian neighbor apologizing for? WAS Jennifer really at that club? WHY doesn't Ginger ever clean herself up?) But perhaps these loose ends prove the film's point that life's unexpected mysteries (and miracles) are just par for the course.