Review of New York City Serenade (2007) by André L — 09 Feb 2010

Chris Klein is very good at playing an as$hole in this comedy-drama co-starring Freddie Prinze Jr. [good performance by him as well]. In some ways it's very cliche... they're best friends that are so different that they make you wonder why they're even friends with each other, and they're both in a rut working menial jobs.

Chris Klein's character Ray is a slick-talking loser, band member, and alcoholic...who happens to be a father to a little girl [whose mother seems to hate his guts]. Freddie Prinze Jr.'s character Owen is an aspiring filmmaker who gets a good opportunity to make some minor connections when his short film is nominated in a film festival in Kansas.

Owen wants to share this experience with his fiance before he screws things up with her. Owen invites Ray to go with him to the film festival and Ray takes this as an opportunity to have some fun and act like a big shot.

Ray is the type of friend who constantly gets you into trouble; this leads to a showdown between him and Owen which makes them question why they were ever friends to begin with. At this turning point they take steps toward making changes in their lives [That's all I'll say without ruining the ending].

Overall this is a compelling independent film with good performances and a realistic ending.