Review: Dedication (Grade: C)

"Dedication" starring Billy Crudup, Mandy Moore and Tom Wilkinson is a film that at first seems to be compelling but ultimately is filled with genre cliches, banal and lazy storytelling and simplistic plot devices. The acting is what saves this kind of film from itself and even though this film delivers strong performances it's missing something.

Unfortunately, this is a story that reminds us of an unfunny "As Good As It Gets" where Billy Crudup plays a less charismatic and unlikeable Jack Nicholson (if that's even possible.) The story is frighteningly similar as our hero Henry Roth (Crudup) is a children's book writer that just wants to be left alone and when his illustrator (Wilkinson) dies he is saddled with a new one in the form of Lucy (Moore) who teaches him valuable lessons of love. Along the way, Henry decides to become a better person for her and after pushing her away he attempts to change and she mysteriously goes along with it.

The main problem here is while Nicholson showed the more human side of severe neurosis comedically, Crudup goes for the dramatic. He is mean to people for no apparent reason, incredibly misanthropic for the sake of pushing people away and is generally scared of everything and everyone around him. Crudup plays this role not as a person with hidden feelings but as a irreparably damaged person that just doesn't care. So when he suddenly does care and develop feelings about Lucy it's all the more unbelievable. The great lengths he goes to win back her misplaced affection are as absurd as the fact that this guy could even begin to be a children's writer, let alone a successful one. His performance is the centerpiece of this story but his nonchalantness gets old very quickly. Characters such as his are supposed to change or evolve during the course of the film in order for the viewer to like them and be on their side. Crudup doesn't do this, instead he relies on trite facial tics to show he has any semblance of feelings.

Tom Wilkinson's performance is infused with an over-the-top irony as he acts as Henry's conscience in the later half of the film. Wilkinson chews up every scene he's in and you can tell that he's the only one enjoying himself. Mandy Moore's performance was not only a departure from her normal roles but it was chance to show a subtlety and depth with her acting. She delivers a moving and sweet performance of a damaged person that hasn't quite sunk to the depths of despair that Henry has. I have to say that when I first saw her in the film I like many others thought, Mandy Moore? But she quickly dispelled any doubts I had and disappeared into what I believe is a star turning role. She was so good that I was actually rooting for her character to get away from Henry as quickly as possible without turning back. If she had then that would have been a much different film. Bob Balaban and Dianne Weist play roles we've seen them in before, but much more outlandish. They are actually playing caricatures of the types they've become famous for and it seems they were only there to provide some much needed comic relief.

Ultimately, this film is missing "heart" and in the end I felt depressed and slightly dirty. It's as if the ugliness of Henry has somehow leapt of the screen and infected me with moroseness and self-loathing. I felt my first order of business was to take a long hot shower. I also felt that interacting with people (and having fun) will somehow make me forget the character of Henry.

The trailer leads you to believe this is a love story, and it is, just not in the way you think. The film succeeds in convincing you that love IS blind and inexplicable. If that's the strongest message one can get out of this mess then it has done it's job. If not? Then it's just a mess.

Musings Grade: C

-- Janaki Cedanna