Accidents Happen

Tribeca Film Festival Review

TedFlicks Rating:

$9.50 ticket on a scale of $0 to $12.00

SEINFELD IN CONNECTICUTT

“Accidents Happen,” the feature directorial debut of Andrew Lancaster, is what might have happened if a “Seinfeld” episode had been stretched to 92 minutes with pathos added.  It’s all about the law of unintended consequences of criminal stupidity.  Pic opens with the immolation of an elderly lush who fills an outdoor grill with combustible fluid and tosses in a match.  The pyrotechnics are seen up close by little Billy Conway while prancing about the lawn sprinkler.

Geena Davis, the only American in an otherwise Australian cast, is Gloria Conway, frazzled, foul-mouthed Connecticut mother of four, who, thanks to some really stupid driving in a rainstorm by husband Ray (Joel Tobeck), is about to become mother of two-and-one-half.  She loses daughter Linda instantly in the car crash while son Gene (Joshua Denyer) spends the rest of his life in a coma.

Fast forward eight years – to 1982.  (This is a period piece.)  We have a dysfunctional family who have not recovered from their loss.  The remaining older son, Larry, Gene’s twin played by Harry Cook, is an alcoholic.  Ray wants a divorce.  Gloria lives in a haze of cigarette smoke and vulgarity, and little Billy, now 15-years-old (Harrison Gilbertson), has become an accomplished liar.

It would be pathetic if it were not for the delicious ironies and sight gags.  The world of “Accidents Happen” is idiocy stretched to farce.  Accidents don’t just happen; they happen at the worst possible moment for the characters, often in slow motion, driving home the inanity of their setups.  The opening reel features a clip of a “Three Stooges” short which sets the tone.  The night after the lush’s immolation the Conways go to a drive-in theater, where little Billy sees Moe Howard’s pants set ablaze.

The real trouble stems from Billy’s friendship with Doug Post (Sebastian Gregory), Gene’s partner in crime before the 1974 accident.  Their relationship hinges on mutual longing for the comatose Gene.  Doug and Gene had been notorious pranksters.  Unfortunately for Billy and Doug, a drunken revel that involves streaking, shoplifting, and stealing a bowling ball from the front seat of a 1963 Chrysler Imperial, results in the death of Doug’s father in a single car automobile crash.  At this point, pic avoids bathos with some truly inspired performances as the local cops completely screw up the accident investigation, ruling it a suicide, thereby denying Doug’s family a life insurance payout.  The boys confess to the cops.  Nobody believes them.  When it looks as if someone may, Gloria saves the day with a vulgar vamp.

The cast largely excel.  Davis is in her prime, while the youngsters for the most part give far more than can be expected.  The Australian cast nail their American accents.  Lancaster directs with a sure hand.  Brian Carbee’s dialogue is crisp. Editing by Rolland Gallois is economical, and Ben Nott’s photography (including some multiple camera scenes) leaves little to be desired.  One would never know that Connecticut had been shot in Oz.

Lancaster employs an off-camera narrator, who disposes swiftly of much exposition.  Unfortunately the narration, which strives for irony, comes off smarmy.  It’s a tricky thing for a movie that pokes fun at accidental death and human grief.  Otherwise “Accidents Happen” strikes largely the right balance.  There are three more quibbles:  a dangling plotline concerning the life insurance payout – we really never know whether the sum is worth the boys’ angst; an ending that is a tad trite (save for the ultimate sight gag), and the sound recording:  a few key lines are barely audible.

Given Davis’ remaining star power, “Accidents Happen” should enjoy some theatrical success with reasonable promotion.  Pic is not yet rated, but it features some words that cannot be said on US broadcast TV.

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