SXSW Film '10 Review – Barry Munday

Film, Reviews, Top Story

When you’re half the man you used to be, does it change your outlook on life? This is the question poised in Barry Munday, a comedy about a man that loses something – actually two somethings. Now these “somethings” have several nicknames. Family jewels is a popular one, as is balls. And if you’re Ron Burgundy, James Westfall and Dr. Kenneth Noiswater will suffice.

Barry Munday (Patrick Wilson) is a suburbanite lothario, only he isn’t very good at it. He’s also bad at his job as an insurance rep. Pretending to be working at the computer or talking on the phone, his moments of grandeur come at lunch when he watches women from afar while downing a slice of pepperoni pizza.

Barry is a horny man with an awkward gait. And he values his testicles more than anything. But when he becomes a victim of a random act of trumpet to the genitals, everything changes. He has to get use to living in a way that nature never intended. And on top of all of that, he has to deal with a paternity lawsuit from Ginger Farley (a frizzy-haired Judy Greer), a woman he doesn’t even remember sleeping with. Now it would be easy to say that Barry should be a man and grow a pair, but the trumpet episode makes that achievement impossible. Yet he tries, sometimes with disastrous results.

For his directing debut, Chris D’Arienzo has delivered an unconventional comedy; because, let’s face it, unless the film is a comedy about testicular cancer, ain’t nobody losing a nut. The comedy explores what it means to be a man in light of losing a part of yourself.

D’Arienzo has gathered a talented cast beginning with stars Patrick Wilson and Judy Greer. The comedy also includes Chloe Sevigny, Malcolm McDowell, Cybill Shepherd, Jean Smart, and Billy Dee Williams.

In many ways the character Patrick Wilson plays is like Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused – only Barry isn’t scoping out high schools looking for tail. From the looks of him, Barry Munday was Mr. Joe Cool when he was a senior in high school. But that was at least twenty years ago. Today, he’s an adult who still wants to relive the good old days.

The chemistry that Wilson and Greer share is about as pitch-perfect as you can get. Their appearances don’t mesh, and neither do their attitudes. But it works. Even when Barry tries to do the right thing, he manages to screw it up. That’s why the comedy works as well it does. The basis of Barry Munday may be about a guy losing his testicles, but after awhile it’s easy to lose fact that his pair is missing.

The end result is a relationship comedy that is honest. Love isn’t always perfect. Sometimes it’s awkward. And in the case of Barry Munday and Ginger Farley it’s very awkward, but oh so good.

Category: Spotlight Premieres

Director: Chris D’Arienzo

Showtimes: Tuesday, March 16 at 6:56 PM at Alamo Lamar and Wednesday, March 17 at 7:15 PM at Alamo Lamar

Inside Pulse — Movies will be on the ground at SXSW! For live coverage from the event, follow Robert Saucedo and Travis Leamons on Twitter at @robsaucedo2500 and @skipkassidy.

The South by Southwest film festival will be held in Austin from March 12 through the 20th. For more information about attending the festival and the films being shown, visit www.sxsw.com/film.

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!