Review of The Cake Eaters (2007) by Walter M — 19 Mar 2010

The unassuming and well-acted "The Cake Eaters" adds a new spin to the familiar story of the sex crazed teenager. Georgia(Kristen Stewart) is a 16-year old suffering from neuromuscular degeneration.

Knowing she is getting worse and time is short, she would like very much to lose her virginity soon which gives her a sense of control over her life which she is clearly lacking. One day, she attends a local flea market with her grandmother(Elizabeth Ashley) where she meets Beagle(Aaron Stanford), a cafeteria worker at her high school, who is there with his father Easy(Bruce Dern), the local butcher, to try and sell his mother's(Melissa Leo, seen in flashbacks at the beginning and end) clothes.

Beagle took care of his mother until she died and may also still be a virgin. Beagle and Georgia hit it off and agree to meet at her house later. Just missing this and his mother's funeral is another son, Guy(Jayce Bartok, who also wrote the screenplay), who has been out of town and touch pursuing his dreams of being a musician.

While home, Guy takes the opportunity to reunite with his ex, Stephanie(Miriam Shor), a hairdresser, whom he dumped. All of these characters live in a small town where some of their actions could be perceived in the wrong way if taken out of context, especially Georgia's mom(Talia Balsam) taking tasteful photographs of her in an attempt to be the next Sally Mann and dispel any stereotypes about her daughter's condition.

While all of that is nice and good, just don't bring these photographs with you to the flea market next time.