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Catch and Release

2/10

Stars: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, Fiona Shaw

Director: Susannah Grant

There's a void at the heart of this non-film and unfortunately it's Jennifer Garner. The Alias and Elektra star just isn't capable of carrying a lovable/demanding leading role, especially when the director has decided that her movie has got to be nearly two hours long.

Garner is Gray (that's her Christian name), whose fiance has suddenly popped his clogs. Seemingly well comforted in a never-explained menage-a-trois, Gray mourns his death with fat Sam (Kevin Smith) and mournful Dennis (Sam Jaeger). Although your initial reaction is that the guys are probably gay, it's not the case, as Dennis worships Gray from afar.

Rather nearer is Fritz (Olyphant), the fiance's playboy friend who's obviously destined to be the star's romantic interest - especially when Gray discovers that her man was two-timing her with Maureen (Lewis) who, with the dead man's son in tow, in turn becomes involved with Sam.

That's all folks, and the proceedings never even approach interesting, let alone absorbing. Writer-director Grant did a lot, lot better with her screenplay for Erin Brockovich. This one seems as though it'll never end.

David Quinlan

USA 2006. UK Distributor: Sony (Columbia). Colour.
111 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 1, Swearing 0.

Review date: 16 Mar 2007