Catch And Release

Caught And Released

Viewings: 1, on tv

Genre: Drama

Sub genre: Bereavement, Romance, Fishing.

Synopsis: A woman grieves over the death of her fiancée with the support of three of his friends, secrets are exposed, and there's a fishing motif.

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Smith (yes, that Kevin Smith), Juliette Lewis.

Written and Directed by: Susannah Grant (Ever After, Erin Brockovich, In Her Shoes)

Released (heh): 2007

***Spoilers below, you have been warned!

THE GOOD:

Timothy Olyphant

Not only dangerously hot, but the man can act. Always enigmatic in his roles, and in this, a particularly good broadcaster. His eyes convey so much.

Get it girl!

The cinematography by John Lindley (ASC) (Pleasantville, Sum Of All Fears)

Gorgeous, crisp. Makes the absolute best of the light. Feels like a nature photographer. Colours and images in keeping with fishing theme/motif.

This is what films should look like.

(Fishing rods not included.)

WHAT DOESN'T WORK:

The pacing.

This is established screenwriter Susannah Grant directoral debut, and which explains a lot.

I feel like there a scenes missing between scenes.

Also, quite a few times the characters would give reaction shots that didn’t relate to the previous shot. Why was Jennifer Garner’s character suddenly broadly smiling apropos of nothing? Did someone make a joke and they forgot to include that shot?

Also, hard to keep track of timeline.

CONFUSING:

Her fiancé just died. Why isn’t she grieving? (Beyond 2/3 days.)

Funeral blues

Yay shopping!

Ok, he cheated on her. A lot. So, with discovering that information, she’s cured? Good bye tissues?

She was with him for 5 years. We don’t have to see every shaking hand and forlorn stare at a photo, but let us know if she’s dealt with his passing, and is in a healthy place to romantically commit to someone else.

INDULGENT:

Scenes with Kevin Smith.

There were a lot.

And the scenes he was in, more attention was devoted to him than the other friend, or any other actors. Sure, I like Kevin Smith, but they must have reeeally liked him. So much they let him take over practically every scene he’s in.

Perhaps I’ve underrated him as an actor. Maybe he’s the American Michael Caine or Maggie Smith. Stealing scenes from the leads like a pro.

I don’t know, but it threw off the group dynamic.

Perhaps they wanted to hide the unrequited love from Dennis, the other housemate, for Jennifer Garner's character, by deliberately not focusing on him.

Dennis, the dude on the right, behind the table settings

Or should I say literally.

There are better ways to hide unrequited love for a nice twist, see Love Actually, Andrew Lincoln who’s supposed dislike and coldness to Keira Knightly’s character red herringed a strong, one sided devotion for a best friend’s partner.)

ALSO INDULGENT:

My use of the word ‘scene’. See above.

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Show us the complete story.

- Bridge those gaps.

- Cut down on Kevin Smith’s screen time –

yes, he is good, but less is more, and it would strengthen the ensemble feel.

DOES IT WORK?

Well, in despite of being marketed as a romantic comedy, (as far as I can tell) it is a drama, which gives it more leeway.

(Romantic Comedies have a stricter formula, like a rhyming poem, while dramas are more like free prose – can be deliberating enigmatic/bloody confusing and you can be accused of just not getting it, rather than it being straight up crappy.)

Soooo....kinda/not really.

I was left with an impression of a story with chapters missing. Thus not a solid story.

I can’t lose myself in the magic, if every 10 minutes or so I go ‘wait, where are we now? What just happened’ like a dozing Nanna with a midday movie.

ANALOGY:

Catch and Release is like train tracks with gaps every couple of metres, causing a jarring journey for all those aboard, but with excellent scenery.

WHY WATCH IT:

For Timothy Olyphant. He’s excellent.

Or for the pretty pictures.

IN SUMMATION:

If you’re flicking channels.