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Directed By - Harris Goldberg

Starring:
Matthew Perry
Lynn Collins
Kevin Pollak
Mary Steenburgen

Plot: A chronically depressed screenwriter desperately tries to cure his condition when he meets the girl of his dreams.

Review:

Hudson (Matthew Perry) finds himself in a state of unwanted distress one night after having too many hits of a joint while hanging out with his friends.  Unfortunately for him, once the buzz wears off, the anxiety and depression only gets worse.  Walking around in a self described state of nothingness, Hudson hides in his home, loses interest in work and assumes this is how the rest of his life is going to be.  Enter Sara (Lynn Collins) with whom Hudson has instant chemistry with.  He now decides it is time to figure out his head if he wants to keep the girl.

One would expect this movie to fail largely to the fact of who's mug is plastered on the movie poster.  Matthew Perry will never be able to remove himself from his 'Friends' days and his movie credits include The Whole Nine Yards, Three To Tango and Almost Heroes.  Those movies may not have been Oscar gold winners but I have always enjoyed Matthew's likable good guy in a bad situation persona.  Here he goes for something different as a man suffering from depersonalization.  There are some very serious moments in this movie and Matthew holds his own while suffering through a nervous breakdown.  Thankfully writer and director Harris Goldberg keeps the story light with plenty of humor along the way.  The film was also autobiographical for Goldberg as he had suffered from this type of depression.   

Hudson's best way to keep himself grounded is to watch The Golf Channel for days on end, this makes him relax and forget about his problems...zone out is really the key phrase.  He has to walk the line of normal with Sara but after a few too many stay at home movie marathons she wants to go out.  This is not the best idea for Hudson and as Sara pushes to move the relationship along you get the feeling the whole thing is a ticking time-bomb...and it is. 

In an attempt to get better Hudson tries many failed attempts at therapy.  Each one prescribing him a new medication that does nothing for his symptoms.  One in-particular, Dr. Cheryl Blaine  (Mary Steenburgen) falls hopelessly in love with him resulting in a much needed comedic break and underscoring how maybe the ones always hearing about our problems are really well...Fucked up too.  I also have to mention Kevin Pollak who plays Hudson's best friend and co-worker.  Most of the humor comes from the many scenes of them together and almost every single one of them involves the mass consumption of food.  After a while you start to wait for the next one to see where they will take it.  

The ending of the film could have been more direct and hopeful but I guess when you are writing about something so profound hope doesn't really enter into the equation.  I respect this movie more than I actually liked it.  A very nice love story intertwined with a complete loss of who you are and what the future holds. 

2 Crowes out of 4