Looks just like the sun

Sarah and I went to see what I fully expected to be a “Canadian drama” last night at the AMC Forum. Turns out, Canadian drama has made some great improvements since my childhood, if you judge it based on this movie, Who Loves the Sun.

The title is never explained and seems like a pretty random choice. The movie is set in a cottage on a lake that could really be almost anywhere in Canada. If you’ve ever been to a Canadian cottage on a lake, you’ll recognize just about everything, from the views to the boathouse, to the pastimes, etc.

So, it’s basically about 3 old friends in their very early 30s who haven’t seen each other in 5 years, ever since something happened between them that made one of the guys (Lukas Haas, adorable forever) disappear for that time. In the meantime the other guy has become a successful writer, living in New York and we have no idea what the girl has been up to. Suddenly he’s back at his friend’s parents’ cottage and they take it upon themselves to call the other two for a reunion.

One of the few problems of the film is that they say it’s going to be for a weekend, but if you count sundowns it’s actually a six-day affair. Also, people show up really quickly from places like New York and Mystery Land (we don't know where the girl lives) to this at least somewhat remote location. The other problem is the girl (Molly Parker)’s wardrobe. No, wait, Adam Scott –the other guy-‘s wardrobe is also a problem. They both show up to the Canadian wilderness in beautiful outfits that never wrinkle. Molly Parker’s character even shows up in heels, looking like a femme fatale in a gorgeous dress (even more than you can see in the poster here). It’s too much. At one point, when she appears on the screen in a pristine white sweater over a bikini bottom I had to cry out “Jesus Christ!” in the theatre. But that’s about the only things I found wrong with the movie. It’s too bad, because those are the sorts of the things that really pull you out of the fantasy world, but I forgive them.

As with childhood book reports, “I would definitely recommend this movie” to anyone who’s ever cheated someone they loved, or been cheated by someone they loved, or helped someone else cheat on someone they loved. Possibly best suited for people in our age range, although I can’t say for sure it’s not interesting to older audiences as well.

One of the best things about the script and the acting is how the drama is never just drama. Just like in real life, people make inappropriate jokes and take things a little too far in a way that breaks the tension without releasing you from their world.

This has been my movie report for the day. Go out there and support the New Canadian Cinema (I just made that up).