Kevin Klawitter
Location: MN
"Little Dick"
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Written by:
Patton Oswalt, Judd Apatow, and Paul Feig
Executive Producer:
Paul Feig, Seth Rogen
Produced by:
Judd Apatow
Music by:
Jason Schwartzman
Director of Photography:
Robert D. Yeoman
Editors:
Craig Alpert and Brent White
Production Designer:
Jefferson Sage
Art Direction:
James F. Truesdale
Cast:
Richard Stevens: Patton Oswalt
Janet Sullivan: Charlize Theron
Will Benton: Seth Rogen
Julie Williams: Bryce Dallas Howard
Leo Rogers: Jason Schwartzman
Kate Danson: Kristen Wiig
Scott Bellfry: James Franco
Tagline:
Sometimes good things come with small packages.
Plot Summary:
One evening, Richard Stevens (Patton Oswalt), a film critic for a local newspaper is at a bar with his friends Will (Seth Rogen) and Leo (Jason Schwartzman) when a gorgeous blonde (Charlize Theron) walks in. Richard is obviously struck by her, and after much teasing and prodding from Will and Leo (“Don’t get her too drunk, Rick. She won’t be able to tell when you’re finished) he decides to try and strike up a conversation. She introduces herself as Janet Sullivan, and tells him she heard everything his friends said (“You’ve really got to get some quieter friends.”). They start talking and find an instant connection. Later that night, when get back to Janet’s apartment, she invites Richard to spend the night and he refuses. Assuming he’s just ‘old fashioned’, Janet accepts this, and they part ways after sharing a polite kiss.
Over the next several months we watch their relationship develop through humor and mutual interests. Janet gets to know Will and Leo (she proves herself to be more than adept at their style of creating lowest-common-denominator jokes) and she also introduces Rick to her girlfriends Julie (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Kate (Kristen Wiig) , who seem to think she could do better. Eventually, the two of them get married, and they had hardly gotten to the honeymoon suite before Janet has torn off her wedding dress and jumped into the room’s hot tub (Will had early in her and Richard’s relationship warned her of a “big surprise” she’d get when they first slept together). Rick, who has been visibly nervous through the entire after-party, finally reveals why he has been hesitant to have sex with Janet: He removes his pants, revealing that he has a very small penis. Janet tries to reassure him that it doesn’t matter to her, but she is still obviously unsatisfied after their first night together.
Still, they try to make their sexual relationship work, with quite unsuccessful results. An attempt by Rick to wear a penis extender results in a trip to the emergency room (the attending nurses can’t hide their giggles), and another time when he tries to perform cunnillingus on Janet it goes completely wrong in a way that is not appropriate to describe here. Janet continues to insist that she doesn’t care about the sex aspect of their relationship, but the very self-conscious and self-critical Richard wants her to be able to have a healthy sex life, and after a while eventually suggests that she find a lover. Janet is shocked by this, but Richard keeps saying he doesn’t want her marriage to him to keep her from being sexually satisfied (“I don’t want you to have to continue using your fingers to pretend I can get you off.”)
Janet decides to discuss the prospect with Julie and Kate, and they both seem excited by the idea. Kate doesn’t seem to understand why Janet married Richard without looking at his penis first, and Julie, who has been in an “open relationship”, describes how it made everything better for both partners (in the end, it didn’t work out and she ended up moving in with her lover, but hey, if she knows anybody who could make it work it’s Janet!). Janet talks more with Richard and also Will and Leo as they discuss whether it is really the right idea, and what the proper way to find someone to sleep with on the side would be. Janet says she doesn’t want anybody too close to her or Richard (Will has volunteered, of course) under the fear that it would make the personal relationship awkward, and she doesn’t want to look for a stranger, either, due to the risks involved.
After lots of thought and some prodding from Richard, Janet eventually decides to approach Scott Belfry (James Franco), a handsome and not-too-bright guy from her work who she has caught checking her out from time to time. They go on a polite lunch and she tries to explain the situation she’s in. Scott tries to be conscientious, but can barely contain his excitement at the possibility of a “guilt-free” sexual relationship with somebody as beautiful as Janet. As the evening goes on, Janet appreciates Scott’s politeness, but also finds herself a little perturbed by the fact that he always seems to find the wrong thing to say (“Is this going to be a weekly thing, or can I call you whenever?” “This ‘open-relationship’ thing, that means your husband has a girlfriend too, right? Have you met her? Can I meet him?” “Have you changed your Facebook status yet?”)
The two of them are just about to find a hotel room together when Janet finally decides she can’t go through with it. She leaves Scott standing alone in the lobby (he’s left feeling a little dumbfounded… how could anybody not want to sleep with him?) and rushes home to be with Rick, and after all of the prodding and encouraging he actually seems subtly glad she never went through with it. They both say they’ll eventually find a way to make their relationship and sex life work. The next day, Rick comes home carrying a blindfold, a cucumber, and some whipped cream…
Awards Campaign:
Judd Apatow continues his strategy of directing and producing movies about real, serious issues contained within raunchy comedy with Little Dick, his first directorial effort since Funny People. A story about a man with a very small penis can often lead to a stupid and conventional narrative (see: Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star), but Judd Apatow uses a subtle directorial touch, as well as a cast of terrific actors to elevate the material into something much more: a seriocomic look at how a relationship can function without sex.
Patton Oswalt and Charlize Theron are terrific in the lead roles, with Oswald playing Richard as a charming, intelligent man marred by massive self-consciousness and a lack of confidence. Theron is perfectly cast as Janet, who is attractive enough that the audience (particularly those who went in expecting a standard raunchy comedy) is wondering why Oswald didn’t jump her bones immediately, but is polite and smart enough to respect his choices. As the movie subtly switches from Richard’s POV to Janet’s at around the halfway point, we get another thing rarely seen in mainstream movies: women talking seriously about what the sexual aspect of a relationship means to them.
As strong as the leads are, the supporting cast turns in equally funny and strong performances. Seth Rogen once again proves he’s one of the best “buddy” actors around, and this time (like director Apatow) he tones down the stoner/slacker persona he is known for and instead plays the part of Will simply like that, a buddy. The type of funny, friendly guy you’d love to have a beer and watch TV with. Bryce Dallas Howard and Kristen Wiig are also hilarious as Janet’s friends, both of whom express their doubts over her relationship with Rick in different ways: Kate blunt and bitchy, Julia eternally optimistic. James Franco makes the most of his limited screen time as Scott, in the practically show-stealing sequence where Janet considers recruiting him as a lover. Most actors would play the part as mean or dangerous, but Franco walks a comedic tightrope by making the character essentially nice, but completely ignorant of what the implications of what he’s being asked to do are. He might be a lecherous dolt, but you actually end up feeling a little sorry for him when he’s left alone in the hotel.
Little Dick is a hilarious and perceptive movie that is also a lot smarter than a story based around a penis joke has any right to be. With winning performances, a great cast, and direction from Judd Apatow that knows exactly the right tone to take at any given time, it is quite simply one of the best films of the year.
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director -
Judd Apatow
Best Actor -
Patton Oswalt
Best Actress -
Charlize Theron
Best Supporting Actor -
Seth Rogen
Best Supporting Actor -
James Franco
Best Supporting Actress -
Bryce Dallas Howard
Best Supporting Actress -
Kristin Wiig
Best Screenplay -
Patton Oswalt, Judd Apatow, and Paul Feig
Location: MN
"Little Dick"
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Written by:
Patton Oswalt, Judd Apatow, and Paul Feig
Executive Producer:
Paul Feig, Seth Rogen
Produced by:
Judd Apatow
Music by:
Jason Schwartzman
Director of Photography:
Robert D. Yeoman
Editors:
Craig Alpert and Brent White
Production Designer:
Jefferson Sage
Art Direction:
James F. Truesdale
Cast:
Richard Stevens: Patton Oswalt
Janet Sullivan: Charlize Theron
Will Benton: Seth Rogen
Julie Williams: Bryce Dallas Howard
Leo Rogers: Jason Schwartzman
Kate Danson: Kristen Wiig
Scott Bellfry: James Franco
Tagline:
Sometimes good things come with small packages.
Plot Summary:
One evening, Richard Stevens (Patton Oswalt), a film critic for a local newspaper is at a bar with his friends Will (Seth Rogen) and Leo (Jason Schwartzman) when a gorgeous blonde (Charlize Theron) walks in. Richard is obviously struck by her, and after much teasing and prodding from Will and Leo (“Don’t get her too drunk, Rick. She won’t be able to tell when you’re finished) he decides to try and strike up a conversation. She introduces herself as Janet Sullivan, and tells him she heard everything his friends said (“You’ve really got to get some quieter friends.”). They start talking and find an instant connection. Later that night, when get back to Janet’s apartment, she invites Richard to spend the night and he refuses. Assuming he’s just ‘old fashioned’, Janet accepts this, and they part ways after sharing a polite kiss.
Over the next several months we watch their relationship develop through humor and mutual interests. Janet gets to know Will and Leo (she proves herself to be more than adept at their style of creating lowest-common-denominator jokes) and she also introduces Rick to her girlfriends Julie (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Kate (Kristen Wiig) , who seem to think she could do better. Eventually, the two of them get married, and they had hardly gotten to the honeymoon suite before Janet has torn off her wedding dress and jumped into the room’s hot tub (Will had early in her and Richard’s relationship warned her of a “big surprise” she’d get when they first slept together). Rick, who has been visibly nervous through the entire after-party, finally reveals why he has been hesitant to have sex with Janet: He removes his pants, revealing that he has a very small penis. Janet tries to reassure him that it doesn’t matter to her, but she is still obviously unsatisfied after their first night together.
Still, they try to make their sexual relationship work, with quite unsuccessful results. An attempt by Rick to wear a penis extender results in a trip to the emergency room (the attending nurses can’t hide their giggles), and another time when he tries to perform cunnillingus on Janet it goes completely wrong in a way that is not appropriate to describe here. Janet continues to insist that she doesn’t care about the sex aspect of their relationship, but the very self-conscious and self-critical Richard wants her to be able to have a healthy sex life, and after a while eventually suggests that she find a lover. Janet is shocked by this, but Richard keeps saying he doesn’t want her marriage to him to keep her from being sexually satisfied (“I don’t want you to have to continue using your fingers to pretend I can get you off.”)
Janet decides to discuss the prospect with Julie and Kate, and they both seem excited by the idea. Kate doesn’t seem to understand why Janet married Richard without looking at his penis first, and Julie, who has been in an “open relationship”, describes how it made everything better for both partners (in the end, it didn’t work out and she ended up moving in with her lover, but hey, if she knows anybody who could make it work it’s Janet!). Janet talks more with Richard and also Will and Leo as they discuss whether it is really the right idea, and what the proper way to find someone to sleep with on the side would be. Janet says she doesn’t want anybody too close to her or Richard (Will has volunteered, of course) under the fear that it would make the personal relationship awkward, and she doesn’t want to look for a stranger, either, due to the risks involved.
After lots of thought and some prodding from Richard, Janet eventually decides to approach Scott Belfry (James Franco), a handsome and not-too-bright guy from her work who she has caught checking her out from time to time. They go on a polite lunch and she tries to explain the situation she’s in. Scott tries to be conscientious, but can barely contain his excitement at the possibility of a “guilt-free” sexual relationship with somebody as beautiful as Janet. As the evening goes on, Janet appreciates Scott’s politeness, but also finds herself a little perturbed by the fact that he always seems to find the wrong thing to say (“Is this going to be a weekly thing, or can I call you whenever?” “This ‘open-relationship’ thing, that means your husband has a girlfriend too, right? Have you met her? Can I meet him?” “Have you changed your Facebook status yet?”)
The two of them are just about to find a hotel room together when Janet finally decides she can’t go through with it. She leaves Scott standing alone in the lobby (he’s left feeling a little dumbfounded… how could anybody not want to sleep with him?) and rushes home to be with Rick, and after all of the prodding and encouraging he actually seems subtly glad she never went through with it. They both say they’ll eventually find a way to make their relationship and sex life work. The next day, Rick comes home carrying a blindfold, a cucumber, and some whipped cream…
Awards Campaign:
Judd Apatow continues his strategy of directing and producing movies about real, serious issues contained within raunchy comedy with Little Dick, his first directorial effort since Funny People. A story about a man with a very small penis can often lead to a stupid and conventional narrative (see: Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star), but Judd Apatow uses a subtle directorial touch, as well as a cast of terrific actors to elevate the material into something much more: a seriocomic look at how a relationship can function without sex.
Patton Oswalt and Charlize Theron are terrific in the lead roles, with Oswald playing Richard as a charming, intelligent man marred by massive self-consciousness and a lack of confidence. Theron is perfectly cast as Janet, who is attractive enough that the audience (particularly those who went in expecting a standard raunchy comedy) is wondering why Oswald didn’t jump her bones immediately, but is polite and smart enough to respect his choices. As the movie subtly switches from Richard’s POV to Janet’s at around the halfway point, we get another thing rarely seen in mainstream movies: women talking seriously about what the sexual aspect of a relationship means to them.
As strong as the leads are, the supporting cast turns in equally funny and strong performances. Seth Rogen once again proves he’s one of the best “buddy” actors around, and this time (like director Apatow) he tones down the stoner/slacker persona he is known for and instead plays the part of Will simply like that, a buddy. The type of funny, friendly guy you’d love to have a beer and watch TV with. Bryce Dallas Howard and Kristen Wiig are also hilarious as Janet’s friends, both of whom express their doubts over her relationship with Rick in different ways: Kate blunt and bitchy, Julia eternally optimistic. James Franco makes the most of his limited screen time as Scott, in the practically show-stealing sequence where Janet considers recruiting him as a lover. Most actors would play the part as mean or dangerous, but Franco walks a comedic tightrope by making the character essentially nice, but completely ignorant of what the implications of what he’s being asked to do are. He might be a lecherous dolt, but you actually end up feeling a little sorry for him when he’s left alone in the hotel.
Little Dick is a hilarious and perceptive movie that is also a lot smarter than a story based around a penis joke has any right to be. With winning performances, a great cast, and direction from Judd Apatow that knows exactly the right tone to take at any given time, it is quite simply one of the best films of the year.
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director -
Judd Apatow
Best Actor -
Patton Oswalt
Best Actress -
Charlize Theron
Best Supporting Actor -
Seth Rogen
Best Supporting Actor -
James Franco
Best Supporting Actress -
Bryce Dallas Howard
Best Supporting Actress -
Kristin Wiig
Best Screenplay -
Patton Oswalt, Judd Apatow, and Paul Feig