Review of Barry Munday (2010) by Ashley H — 14 Jul 2010

Barry is a perpetual man-boy. Drinking and screwing his dumb happy life away until one day, when he loses his balls in an attack. Leads him down a path of self-redfinition. While on that path, a girl contacts him and tells him she's pregnant with his kid. Because he's in the "re-definition" kick, hinsteaqd of running away, he mans up and helps her through it.

The girl here, Judy Greer, brings it all across for me. She reminds me of an ex-girlfriend. She tells this story about growing up with an air of ugly. She's not ugly at all, but has given herself that awkward social demeanor. And with comfortable ownership of yourself like that, you can seem better than the most classic beuaty in the room.

Judy, as Ginger, reminded me of my ex-girlfriend in this way. The make-up-less face and red hair. The way she turns every bit of Barry's inquizitiveness, his care, his concern; and turns it into: "No- don't be a dumbass." or "Yes, stupid".

Later there's a scene burned in my mind. Where Barry looks across a crowded room and sees her crying with smiling eyes. She's so proud of him. Crying that he is as happy as he has ever been. I won't forget that scene, though it reminds me of nothing.