Review of Griffin & Phoenix (2006) by Bruno C — 01 Jun 2009

The rating just goes to show what a closet chick flick fiend I am :P.

Actually this film is quirky and an interesting twist on the usual "chick flick"...with Dermot Mulroney portraying Griffin, a middle-age divorcee who finds out he's dying from cancer and only has a year of life left. In coming to terms with his prognosis, he attends a psychology college class on dying...where he meets Phoenix (played by Amanda Peet), a school administrator. Griffin is not exactly having an easy time w/ his situation (he's refusing any treatment), and one way he's dealing with it is by becoming a bit sociopathic and daring. One such way he manifested this was to ask Phoenix after just meeting in the class out to dinner...which she makes clear she won't meet him.

But of course she does show up...and gets the ball rolling with the story where Griffin is on his little trip to fulfill a "bucketlist", though of little crazy things like breaking into buildings, staying up to watch the sunrise, trainhopping. Phoenix isn't really sure what to make of Griffin and very reluctant to really start a relationship of any kind...there's a brilliant way the script makes her character very wishywashy, uncertain of what to do with this strange man. And of course in their adventures either of them hardly know anything about the other, not even their first names. But she does give in and a romance does blossom.

Though just when you think things might become "normal", the big twist comes to pass when Phoenix finds books in Griffin's apt about dying and terminal illness...she reacts very negatively, storming away....she thinks Griffin is toying with her....because as it turns out she also has cancer. So it quickly comes to pass that they reveal their conditions, and this turns into a truly bittersweet love story.

Griffin & Phoenix is a well done personal reflection on life and dying, of how difficult it can be to find peace of mind and heart. Amanda Peet's acting got a little annoying to me at times but at other times she shined. Mulroney did a great job portraying a lost soul who eventually finds happiness and contentment. I think the winner here is the script...and while dialogue got a little clunky at times, there was a spectacular way in which it captured two complex characters, spinning it into a very believable love story with its quirks and devastating theme.