Gretchen DVD Review

Teenager Gretchen (Courtney Davis) is so taken with Ricky (John Merriman) and his maladjusted character that she gives up her self-esteem, any and all pursuits, the respect of her mother and everything else in the October 27th Watchmaker Films DVD release of the film Gretchen. Her attraction tortures her and causes her to end up in the Shady Acre Emotional Group Home, which in turn leads her on an adventure escaping the group home with Nick (Macon Blair) and finally finding her estranged father Herb Finkle (Stephen Root), who himself is an odd loner and won’t tolerate her.

Because it’s an independent film and because director Steve Collins spent three shorter films “sketching” it (and all three are included on the disc, Lonelyland, Gretchen And The Night Danger, and Gretchen And The Wolf Wizard, which is very revelatory), Courtney Davis gives an intentionally angst-laden and highly dramatic performance. Often TV shows depict people older than teens playihg high school students and it feels awkward, but perhaps because of the intensity involved Gretchen and Ricky and Nick seem absolutely right for their roles. Stephen Root (Herb Finkle) should also be commended for his fine acting in the role of the eccentric father, as should Becky Ann Baker for her wonderful depiction of a concerned mother (Lori Finkle).

Also because it’s an indie film, there are strange incongruities similar to life (like a rave at Crystal Shortcake with DJ Boo Boo where popcorn is sold for a quarter that draws only a handful of wildly dancing and drugging participants). The movie is unrated but not at all sexually explicit (safe to see with the family but younger kids would have no interest in it, because Gretchen is basically subconsciously driven by her father’s early abandonment of her).

Original classical music composed by Graham Reynolds creates a strong background over and over again as Gretchen tries to decide what to do. In the end her situation starts to resolve and right itself, highly unusual in a character of her age.

I highly recommend Gretchen for all of us film buffs who love new and unique voices, this particularly full-spirited one coming to us from Austin, Texas. The variation in our lives is shown and renewed by indie filmmakers like director and writer Steve Collins. They take up the slack where commercial enterprises refuse to mirror our most real and intense emotions. Bravo for a fine new filmmaker!

MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 98 minutes
Release Date: October 27th, 2009

Grade: A

Director: Steve Collins
Starring: Courtney Davis, John Merriman, Becky Ann Baker and Stephen Root

DVD Review by Christina of Movie Room Reviews