Review of Elizabethtown (2005) by Chads. — 23 Oct 2005

With "Elizabethtown", Mr. Crowe has apparently made a film for his cultists, those Stillwater enthusiasts who can quote entire scenes from "Almost Famous". This guy loves rock and roll so much, southern rock crashes a funeral.

What ensues is incredibly surreal (and arguably, idiotic), but Judy Greer saves the scene, and against all odds, transforms this creative miscalculation into something oddly moving. Greer's priceless reaction shots also help make us forget that her mother's stand-up act would've been greeted with stony silence in real-life.

Sure, "Elizabethtown" has some unforgettable imperfections, starting with the whole Chuck & Cindy: The Wedding subplot, and that wacko videotape which helps placate a group of screaming kids.

But then Crowe counterbalances those missteps with some of the pathos involved with cremation, and a very sweet tribute from Claire (Kirsten Dunst) to Drew's father when you stop to consider from which album "Pride (in the Name of Love) comes from.

Like how "Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back" was a love-letter from Kevin Smith to his devout fans, "Elizabethtown" is for the people who call his 2000 masterpiece, "Unitled".