MPH rolls 'Rat' in Aug.

Lyonne to topline romantic comedy

By LEONARD KLADY

MPH Entertainment has announced an August start in New York City on its romantic comedy "Rat Girl," to topline Natasha Lyonne. The indie feature centers on an emotionally unstable woman rescued from suicide by an introverted abstract artist. The film is written and will be directed by Steve Savitz and produced by SueAnn Fincke.

Lyonne, who starred as Woody Allen and Goldie Hawn's daughter in "Everyone Says I Love You," stars in the Cannes-preemed "The Slums of Beverly Hills," which opens commercially in August via Fox Searchlight.

Savitz, who was a staff writer for HBO's Comedy Channel, makes his feature directing debut with "Rat Girl." "Just Looking," an earlier script he co-wrote, was recently optioned by Lakeshore Entertainment. Also an accomplished visual artist, Savitz will render the male character's paintings.

"Rat Girl" is the second feature for MPH, which last year produced "Men Seeking Women" headlining Grant Shaud. The principals of the company are Jim Milio, Melissa Jo Peltier and Mark Hufnail.

Additional productions on the company's development slate include "The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "To See the Elephant."

"Grandmother," a family comedy based on a children's book, is being co-produced in association with Pat Sajak's P.A.T. Prods.

"Greek Wedding," the tale of a woman from a traditional family who runs into resistance when she brings home her white-bread beau, is based on Nia Vardalos' one-woman legiter.

"Elephant" is a family drama set in Alaska centering on a father whose business trip with his son turns into an unexpected adventure.