L.A. Outfest

April's Shower

By ROBERT KOEHLER

A Silver Leaf Prods. and ConQuest Entertainment presentation. Produced by Honey Labrador, William Shaffer, Christopher Racster, Trish Doolan. Executive producers, Michael Miola, John Paul DeJoria, Eloise DeJoria. Co-executive producers, Patricia Fei, James Fei, Joe Engleman, George Semerjian. Co-producers, Mark Mower, Maria Cina, Joe Tabbanella, Debra A. Baum. Directed, written by Trish Doolan.
 
With: Maria Cina, Trish Doolan, Frank Grillo, Zach Ward, Lara Harris, Arly Jover, Randall Batinkoff, Molly Cheek.
 

The joys of farce are fumbled in "April's Shower," star-director-writer Trish Doolan's arch and undernourished comedy about a bridal shower turned on its head by the bride's lesbian past. The antique premise (certainly as compared with the hip, urban cultural profile exhibited in the movie) has April (Maria Cina) willing to forsake her lesbian identity to marry nice Pauly (Randall Batinkoff) and thereby please her mom (Molly Cheek). But she insists on having her ex-lover Alex (Doolan) serve as maid-of-honor and host. Crowd-pleaser at undemanding gay-lesbian fests may receive a few bouquets from female-skewed cablers.

So much time is spent justifying the pic's set-up that the comedy never works up steam. As the guests pile into Alex's home, havoc is unleashed as Alex has a hissy fit and April's mom learns her daughter's true desires. Any genuine emotions get smothered in inept humor, typified by one confirmed lesbian character suddenly lip-locking with a stud delivering pizza. Pic is plagued by messy staging of ensemble scenes and relentlessly gauzy lensing.

Camera (Fotokem color), Kristian Bernier, Rory King; editor, Roberto Silvi; music, Jeff Cardoni; production designers, Leslie Keel, Steve Portigiani; costume designer, Melissa Meister. Reviewed at L.A. Outfest, July 19, 2003. Running time: 100 MIN.