Michael Leydon Campbell Rages and Pukes in Bob Funk

Comments (0) By Melissa Anderson Wednesday, Mar 18 2009

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Bob Funk
Directed by Craig Carlisle
Cinema Epoch
Opens March 20, Quad Cinemas

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Movies-especially inconsequential, earnest comedies like Bob Funk about how people "achieved" their sobriety-are as fascinating as listening to people recount the plot of their dreams. With all due respect to Leo Tolstoy, all unhappy film families in which someone ascends those "12 steps" are exactly alike. Though certainly not as noxious as Rachel Getting Married, Craig Carlisle's directorial debut similarly insists that we find charm in its protagonist's most odious behavior. Self-medicating to dull the pain of a dead dad, an ex-wife, and a mom (Grace Zabriskie) who demotes him from VP of Sales in the family-futon emporium to its custodian, the titular drunk (Michael Leydon Campbell) rages and pukes. Mother Funk insists her son enter therapy with a woman head-shrinker, which leads to AA meetings and the pretty new associate at the office (Rachael Leigh Cook) telling Bob, "The truth is the only thing you never have to be ashamed of." Failing as a satire of cubicle culture (Amy Ryan's inexplicable cameo only makes you wish you were watching The Office) and too thin to convincingly play out its redemption story, Bob Funk, at the very least, has no scenes on how to load a dishwasher properly.