| BALL IN THE HOUSE Rating:  Director: Tanya Wexler Writer: Matthew Swan Producer: John Cosgrove, Ira Deutchman, Stephen Dyer, Terry Dunn Meurer Director of Photography: Gero Steffen Cast: Jonathan Tucker, Jennifer Tilly, Dan Moran, David Strathairn Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
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Review by: Ryan
Kugler
6/29/02
Ball in the House wants to have it two ways. It wants to be a serious family drama exploring the dangers of addiction, as well as a pitch black comedy about a family from hell. It isn't serious or compelling enough for the first, and it isn't funny or dark enough for the second. Rather, this is a film that constantly struggles between the two and throws a bunch of different situations (both comic and dramatic) out there in hopes that something will stick.
The story kicks off as a family anxiously awaits JJ's (Jonathan Tucker) return from a court ordered stint of rehab. The different people in the house are each looking forward to the seventeen-year-old's return for their own reasons, as each has an agenda. There's his stern stepfather (Dan Moran), his loving mother (Deirdre O' Connell), his younger brother and his aunt (Jennifer Tilly) and uncle. While they all grow impatient from the wait, several matters are discussed such as the traffic accident that got JJ sent away and the details of an insurance policy taken out on him, which entitles the beneficiary to a large sum of money if he were to die.
When JJ gets home, he's greeted by each of these people who have a strange way of welcoming him. His stepfather practically ignores him, his mother caters to his every need, his little brother just wants to play some ball and his scheming aunt (who comes onto him) and uncle would love nothing more than for him to start drinking again (so the insurance policy could kick in).
It's an intriguing set-up, but because the characters are so unlikable (including the lead) and there's really nowhere else for the story to go, it quickly becomes tedious and boring. Add in a giant snowstorm that keeps the family homebound for a good portion of the running time and you have a tough sit.
Director Tanya Wexler tries her best to liven things up with some well-acted flashbacks between JJ and his therapist (David Strathairn) and an unnecessary, though intense subplot involving an ex-friend (Ethan Embry) who comes to JJ in search of a large sum of money that's owed him. She also tries her best with the confining set, but it becomes way too claustrophobic.
Both Strathairn and Tilly add some class and talent to the low-budget proceedings and come out looking the best with some fine character work, although as much as I like Tilly, she can play this sexpot stuff in her sleep. I'm ready to see her try something new. Tucker is decent and has some powerful in scenes both with his therapist and alone as he wrestles with his own inner demons. Because he's such an angry and self-destructive guy, I had a hard time caring about where he ends up, so it was difficult to stay involved.
Ball in the House is not a complete waste of time (as there are a few strong scenes and a couple of good performances), though spending ninety minutes with this weird and miserable group of characters is more of a chore than an entertaining evening out. Also, for something that flirts with comedy as this film does, I didn't laugh once.
(Screened at the 2002 Los Angeles Film
Festival)
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