{"id":168834,"date":"2017-06-01T06:32:22","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T13:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shockya.com\/news\/?p=168834"},"modified":"2017-06-01T06:32:22","modified_gmt":"2017-06-01T13:32:22","slug":"dean-movie-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shockya.com\/news\/2017\/06\/01\/dean-movie-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Dean Movie Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Demetri<\/a>
Demetri Martin in Dean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DEAN
\nDirector: Demetri Martin
\nWritten by: Demetri Martin
\nCast: Demetri Martin<\/a>, Kevin Kline<\/a>, Gillian Jacobs<\/a>, Rory Scovel<\/a>, Christine Woods, Ginger Gonzaga
\nScreened at: Dolby88, NYC, 5\/31\/17
\nOpens: June 2, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to some psychologists, people often go through levels of anxiety and depression when someone close dies. The death of a spouse is often at the top of the list, the death of a mother closely follows, and even the death of a cat or dog can cause your life to unravel. With “Dean,” Demetri Martin, a Renaissance man in the movie industry in that he directs, wrote, edits, illustrates, and is principal actor (he\u2019s also a stand-up comic who has been on Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s show), hones in on three people who must come to terms with death. One, Dean (Demetri Martin) copes with the death of his mother, his father Robert (Kevin Kline) with the demise of his wife, and Dean\u2019s best friend Eric (Rory Scovel) loses a beloved cat. Though there is much drama in this heartfelt tale, there is also ample comedy, with young Dean\u2019s resembling young Dustin Hoffman in \u201cThe Graduate\u201d and much of the entire movie within the sanctified circle of Woody Allen\u2019s masterpiece, \u201cAnnie Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDean\u201d has the look of a movie closely based on the writer-director-editor-illustrator\u2019s life. Demetri, who in real life is in his forties, plays a manchild who, with hair that covers his forehead looks fifteen years younger. He freelances illustrating books and according to his dad Robert (Kevin Kline), will do anything to avoid having a steady job. Dean\u2019s mother recently died, his father unable to come to grips with the loss though intent on selling his large house in Hawthorne, New York to Dean\u2019s dismay. While Robert has put his foot in the dating pool by taking out Carol (Mary Steenburgen), his realtor, Dean goes to L.A. at the invitation of a digital effects company (a disastrous interview). Along the way Dean and his best-friend Eric (Rory Scovel) go to a party where Dean meets Nicky (Gillian Jacobs). Though Nicky may be bi-sexual given her closeness with her friend Jill (Ginger Gonzaga), the two hook up, their relationship a quirky one given that the duo are an awkward, immature fellow and a ditzy female.<\/p>\n

\u201cDean\u201d has the theatrical structure of a main-plot – sub-plot such as you find in Shakespeare\u2019s comedies, with Robert and Carol\u2019s courtship a steadier and more mature one than Dean\u2019s. Both Kevin Kline and Demetri Martin are wholly watchable and with several Woody Allen style gags, awkward moments and pratfalls. Dean falls on his face at a party to Nicky\u2019s amusement; Robert is unable to bring himself to \u201cgo up for coffee\u201d while on a date with Carol; Robert and Carol express their enjoyment of a Broadway play, soon admitting that they did not understand it; Dean drops the ring at the wedding of his friend Brett (Reid Scott), all the while protesting that though there are two best men, he is number one.<\/p>\n

\u201cDean\u201d is a pleasure to watch, the mixture of humor and grief credible. We wish the best for Robert and Carol who may be on their way to forming new lives, and for Dean, we hope that he will take a firmer hand at harnessing his talent and communication skills.<\/p>\n

Rated PG-13. 93 minutes. \u00a9 Harvey Karten, Member, New York Film Critics Online
\nComments, readers? Agree? Disagree? Why?<\/p>\n

Story \u2013 B+
\nActing \u2013 B
\nTechnical- B
\nOverall- B+<\/strong><\/p>\n