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Written by Tanya Marsh (http://www.the-buzz.com)
Edited by Andrew Marcus

Cast: Ethan Hawke (Hamlet), Kyle MacLaughlan (Claudius), Julia Stiles (Ophelia), Liev Shreiber (Laertes), Diane Verona (Gertrude)

 

Premise: Ever since Joline married Carl, she's felt madly in love, emotionally bonded and totally committed... even though Carl walked out on her two weeks ago. Convinced she can save her marriage, she drives two thousand miles west on a comic adventure to track down her wayward husband. The real odyssey begins when Joline winds up in El Paso, Texas, finds Carl and stakes out his new life...from her car.

Overall Rating:

Rated R for language

Joline (Heather Graham) is a very loyal woman. I empathize. I have often been accused of not knowing when to let go of a situation that has spiraled out of control or give up on a person who has rewarded friendship or love with betrayal. But I have learned, as Joline does, that commitment has its limits. Although thankfully, I learned my lesson before I experienced the extremes that Joline does in Committed.

At the beginning of the film, Joline seals her marriage to Carl (Luke Wilson) with the tattoo of a wedding ring rather than the traditional gold band. Just a little hint that Joline takes her wedding vows very seriously. Unfortunately, Carl is another story. The aspiring news photographer is stuck taking too many photos of pies and chili cook-offs for the local newspaper, so he decides to leave New York City (and Joline) to try and shake off his string of bad luck and find himself.

Being abandoned by one's husband might discourage some women, but not Joline. She rents a car and, guided only by a blurry postmark and her unshakable faith, she sets out across the country to find Carl. Eventually she does locate her wayward husband, but he isn't exactly overjoyed to see her. That's okay, Joline is willing to wait Carl out.

As Joline waits, living in her rental car, she strikes up a friendship with Carl's neighbor Neil (Goran Visnjic). (I went to the screening of Committed with my good friend Dusan, who happens to hail from Serbia. He tells me that the correct pronunciation of "Visnjic," best known from his role as Luka on ER is "Veeshneech." So now you know.) Anyway, Neil is a little creepy in his instant attraction to Joline, but Visnjic is just so charismatic, one is willing to overlook that.

Lisa Krueger, an indie film director, has crafted an intriguing little tale about finding your limits and keeping your faith in an age when forever is finite. She has also put together a solid cast. Heather Graham was cast before her turn as Roller Girl in Boogie Nights put her on Hollywood's radar, and Committed shows that the girl can act. The supporting cast is also very good, especially Casey Affleck as Joline's brother Jay and Patricia Velasquez as Carmen.

Overall, Committed is an enjoyable and charming little comedy that kept me smiling for a few hours after I walked out of the theatre - a result that was well worth the price of admission.

Visit Tanya's website at http://www.the-buzz.com