Comic sad sack tale
Hoffman turns out to be as great a director here as he is an actor. His constant throat clearing at awkward moments, which is virtually all the time here, becomes quite funny in a dark and sad way. His relationship with a female sad sack is equally humorous as they fumble their way to a kind of relationship. You wonder what's wrong with both of them. The other couple is in the process of falling apart over infidelities, even as they try to coach the bearish Hoffman on how to woo his woman. At times, Hoffman appears to be almost mentally retarded as he struggles to learn to swim and cook, two small tasks that have always been too much for him. The script is really gem-like, and the score, full of indie folk-rock and reggae is a delight. Watch this one.