I saw this last month at the 2008 Palm springs International Film Festival. American-born Director/writer Matthew Allen has been living in Sweden since 1991 so this film is listed as a co USA/Sweden production. It's a very strong debut feature film from Allen, a nice little comedy that will guarantee a smile on your face throughout the film. This in fact was one of the 10 audience favorites of the festival. Roy (Evan Ellington) is a troubled juvenile delinquent living with no supervision from his older deadbeat brother Reed (Clayne Crawford) after the death of their father Vernon (David Wilbur). Roy accidentally shoots Reed and Reed presses charges sending Roy to Juvi Hall. Roy's uncle Erik Naybor (Cary Elwes) comes to his rescue with an offer to live with him and his family and start a new life. Erik is a high powered motivational speaker who's kind of like a cross between Tony Robbins and Pat Boone and lives in a lavish spread in the Hollywood Hills. Jill (Illeana Douglas) is Erik's compatible wife and business partner. Cam (Chris Pratt) is the good looking, athletic and preppy perfect son who also takes an active part in his father's business. Jessie (Katie Cassidy) is the sweet and pretty cheerleader type daughter who rounds out the family unit in the family business. Linda (Kate Finneran) is a reporter for a Los Angeles newspaper magazine doing a cover story on Naybor and his motivational empire. As witty as this film is I don't see it finding a theatrical audience but it could find a following on one of the pay cable channels like HBO and a subsequent DVD audience. Music from Eale Eye Cherry and Johan Söderqvist. I would give this an 8.5 out of 10 and recommend it.
