"Why, Erica, Why?" Summer Movie Library Series: The Reception

Out of all the movies we’ve watched so far, this is the one that truly made me exclaim “WHY, ERICA, WHY?!” (all caps) when Erica brought it home.

I mean, look at the DVD cover (pictured, right). The pull-out quote promises “a unique and seductive drama”, but I couldn’t help but think, “porn” (and that the library is a LOT edgier than I thought). I don’t know why, but I also remember thinking the two guys looked like they were gay. (It was probably the fact that they agreed to appear huddled together and shirtless on a DVD cover with smoldering looks on their faces.)

And I was right — well about the gay part, not necessarily the porn.

“The Reception” is a 2005 drama starring a bunch of people no one’s ever heard of. It examines the relationship between a middle-aged Frenchwoman named Jeanette (played by Emma Thompson lookalike Pamela Stewart) and Martin (Wayne Lamont Sims), whom she shares a home with in upstate New York. During a snowy winter, Jeanette’s estranged daughter Sierra (Margaret Burkwith) shows up with her new husband Andrew (Darien Sills-Evans). See, I told you you’d never heard of these actors.

Things quickly unravel over the next few wine-soaked, argument-filled days. I’m not going to say anymore because I don’t want to give anything in the movie (that you’ll probably never, EVER watch) away.

So what CAN I say about this movie? I can probably mention that the acting, writing and direction (by John G. Young) was so questionable and amateurish during the first 15 minutes that Erica turned to me and seriously asked me if this was a student movie. She also asked more than once if we HAD to watch the whole thing. (That’s bad, right?) Those first 15 minutes are also a little confusing given the way the characters (and their relationships to each other) are hurriedly and inadequately introduced.

However, if you stick with the movie past those first 15 or so minutes, things get considerably better. Stewart is especially good as a woman who seems terrified of being alone, but continually pushes away those close to her.

Sims and Evans give some questionable line readings at times, but end up being adequate-to-solid in their performances overall. More importantly, they’re good and believable together. Burkwith, on the other hand, is mostly flat-out bad.

I also like that we weren’t seeing the typical types of characters on screen. Not only is it refreshing to see African Americans leads in a drama for adults (and away from the simplistic Tyler Perry umbrella) that also features white actors in prominent roles but it’s always good see a gay black man portrayed as something other than the tired “sassy, gay best friend” role. (Erica and I can also thank this movie for bringing the first soft-core gay sex scene into our lives. Ah memories)

Of course, the movie just can’t shake that “I got some buddies together and shot a movie in my friend’s vacation house for my senior project” vibe. In the end, it turns out being a better bad movie than I expected, and it’s certainly the best interracial, gay drama (?) I’ve seen this year. (Pull THAT quote out and use it on the DVD!)

The Reception…C