The Merry Gentleman (2009)

What I Expected:

What to expect of a suicidal hit-man love story? Comedy, drama, or just a mess? Or maybe some of all of that? I wasn’t sure, but I thought it best to keep my expectations in check – even as I wanted to be charmed by the concept. I usually enjoy Michael Keaton and Kelly MacDonald is always excellent, so The Merry Gentleman was poised for me to be taken by it.

What I got:

The Merry Gentleman is quiet, really quiet. It is not a long movie, but had it been any longer I might have started to fidget. Or fall asleep. As it was, I really enjoyed the careful unfolding of the main characters and you even get a light chuckle in here and there though it is largely a drama.

Michael Keaton made his directorial debut with this film and he chose a real actor’s movie to do it. There is virtually no action, but you are never bored exactly because of the power of the characters and the actors playing them.

Keaton plays Frank Logan, who is a suicidal hit-man intent on off-ing himself after finishing his last assignment. The suicide attempt is interrupted when the eternally optimistic Kate Frazier (MacDonald) walks in on it. Her life is not a happy one either, as her husband beats her and she has to fight him off, but together she and Frank find that they have something to offer each other. All the while a dogged, but largely disillusioned cop (Tom Bastounes) is trying to solve the last murder Frank committed. As the three worlds become more and more entwined, we are treated to amazing feats of character development by all three.

I am a big fan of Kelly MacDonald, and she shines again in the role of Kate. She is probably best known to American audiences as the Texas housewife in No Country for Old Men, but if you saw Choke you would have enjoyed her as the doctor in that or if you had the pleasure of seeing the British TV mini-series State of Play, she was the young newspaper journalist in that story as well. Her Scottish accent is endearing and it is on full display in The Merry Gentleman, adding a charming touch to her character.

Michael Keaton is very restrained in his role as Frank Logan, and not at all like his Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice or The Paper roles. It is a joy to see him flex his quiet side and yet be at least as impactful as he is when he does his high-energy acting.

The Merry Gentleman is definitely an actor’s movie and I found it quite charming. Just don’t try to watch it in a comfortable recliner after a big meal. That should guarantee a light snore and very little memory of the movie itself. But even then you can remember this movie fondly.

Niels Hansen is the co-owner of Hansen Creative Services, a graphic design firm near Columbus, Ohio which specializes in employee communications and small business marketing.

Choke (2008)

A story about a sex-addict and his demented mother, the doctor that helps them both and a best friend that falls in love with a stripper. If you are squeamish about language, sex and nudity, this is not for you. If you are looking for a comedy with surprising depth, this could be for you. My favorite moment is when the stripper dyes her hair after she realizes that blondes are at greater risk for cancer. Brilliant! Sam Rockwell stars along with Angelica Houston, Kelly Macdonald (State of Play) and Gillian Jacobs as the stripper Cherry Daquiri. This one is quirky, and well worth it.

Niels Hansen is the co-owner of Hansen Creative Services, a graphic design firm near Columbus, Ohio which specializes in employee communications and small business marketing.