Review of Winter Passing (2006) by Sheryl S — 07 May 2007
Winter Passing is not a comedy, despite two of its main cast being previous co-stars in Elf. Instead, it is a film about grieving and redemption, a brooding drama with just a touch of humor added by Will Ferrell. Stage actress/bartender Reese is approached by an editor about her father, famous author/recluse Don Holden, and is propositioned. She will pay $100,000 for the love letters he wrote to her mother. So she goes to Michigan to recover the letters and finds her father sharing his house with two strangers. Then the fun begins!
Zooey Deschanel plays mixed-up Reese. She wants companionship but is afraid of opening up, and forces the emotional pain away by inflicting physical pain upon herself. She flexes her acting chops here. This is not Elf 2, not by a long shot.
In fact, the whole cast is great. I've never seen Ed Harris in a role like this. Amelia Warner's good too, whoever she is. And Will Ferrell's subtle humor, which he uses in this film, is equal to if not more hilarious than his over-the-top humor. I believe it's in Will Ferrell's contract that he has to sing at least one song in every film he's in; he fulfills that obligation here. Other than that song, however, the soundtrack is indifferent at best. A typical indie score.
This is a decent film, largely due to its great cast.
This review of Winter Passing (2006) was written by Sheryl S on 07 May 2007.
Winter Passing has generally received positive reviews.
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