Living Out Loud

****

Cast: Holly Hunter, Danny De Vito, Queen Latifah, Martin Donovan

Director: Richard LaGravenese

Rating: M

Opens: Now showing at Village Queen St and Rialto Newmarket

Review: Naomi Larkin

Judith (Hunter) has lived her adult life as a wealthy New York doctor's wife and after he abandons her for a younger woman she is isolated and alone.

A fleeting romantic encounter forces her to see the world and people - including her building lift operator Pat (De Vito) - through new eyes.

The pair form an unlikely bond which blossoms alongside her friendship with sultry nightclub singer Liz (Latifah).

Hunter has not had such a meaty role since The Piano and she rises to the challenge, brilliantly capturing Judith's naivety, vulnerability and sense of fun.

Throughout the film we are privy to her neuroses through some amusing stream-of-consciousness monologues. A favourite is her despair as she watches - while stuffing an enormous cheeseburger into her mouth - a news clip on babies born to crack addicts.

We see her transformed from a voyeur who can't seem to find her place in the world, to a woman whose life is right on track.

De Vito, who is usually associated with more comic roles, brings depth and a surprising sexiness to his character.

Some of the scenes are rerun with a different sequence of events. For example, when Judith and Liz first meet at Jasper's nightclub. In one sequence they casually chat about stabbing former husbands, but in the real sequence Liz snubs Judith. The purpose may be to present Judith's fantasy world, but the result is an irritating distraction.

At times Living Out Loud creeps towards being disjointed but then snaps back into line. This gives it an off-the-wall effect which matches Judith and Pat's personalities and their see-saw relationship.

In Living Out Loud, director LaGravenese (The Horse Whisperer, Bridges of Madison County, The Fisher King) has created a character-driven comedy which is both complex and personal.