Let me start by saying I loved this movie. It's funny, sweet, kind- hearted, campy and has an adorable lead actor in Hank Harris. That being said, I can't imagine who else might like this film. I can't think of one friend I would recommend it to. It's such an oddity that it will surely have a hard time finding an audience other than Christina Ricci fanclub members.

This is probably the first true black comedy I have ever seen. I don't think anyone has truly written a black comedy in a long time. My favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, is often described as a black humorist. I find little of what he writes funny, even slightly humorous. He is more a humanist than humorist to me. But, perhaps, that is what makes black humor, laughing at life. This film has a lot of that going on in it. "Pumpkin" just kicks it up a notch. It often takes it to an absurdist level.

For those who don't know, "Pumpkin" finds a sorority helping challenged athletes (like the Special Olympics) as part of their community service effort. One of the sisters falls in love with one of the challenged athletes much to the chagrin of her sorority sisters and parents. She must also fight the guy's mother who is, of course, over-protective and treats the young man like a child. This sounds like a pretty typical "TV Movie of the Week" right? Now imagine it if John Waters was an advisor and whoever made "But I'm a Cheerleader" directed it

Ricci plays Carolyn, the rich and spoiled sorority girl who helps the titular Pumpkin (Harris) train for the games. The humor here comes from the culture clash of the characters. What is great about the film is that Ricci's circle of family and friends are treated as absurdist caricatures. Much of the humor here comes at the expense of the wealthy elite characters who are all Pollyanna snobs who have absolutely no idea of how the world really works. Ricci's Carolyn is one of these characters until she meets Pumpkin.

Meanwhile, although some humor is shown with Pumpkin's character and his life, this part of the story is treated more realistically. The mentally and physically challenged here are shown to be real people with real lives. And although some of their hardships are exposed with some of the humor coming from rivalries between mothers of challenged athletes, it rarely delves into the ridiculous.

The point is, the film is a dichotomy of styles, in many ways, the absurdity of the elite juxtaposed against the reality of the challenged. It makes for a film that often seems uneven and confused. (It isn't. It just seems like it is). For example, in the middle of what really is a lovely Romeo and Juliet romance between Carolyn and Pumpkin, she gets depressed by all the negative adversity and conflict she encounters dealing with friends and family, as well as Pumpkin's mother. (They are kept apart). In the depths of her despair, she opens up her medicine cabinet, takes out all of its contents and begins to eat or drink them. This should be a troubling moment. But scripter Adam Larson Broder, who directs here with Anthony Abrams (they both wrote "Dead Man on Campus"), makes it absurdly hilarious by having Ricci drink down Pepto Bismal and contact lens cleaning solution. It's utterly ridiculous, and unrealistic, yet funny as hell. Ricci really sells it too.

So, how to take this all in as a viewer? Well, I loved the romance between Ricci and Harris. Although Harris does an awesome job and bringing us Pumpkin as a real challenged person, he is cute and loveable and sweet and poetic. It's easy to like him and easy to see what Ricci's Carolyn sees in him. When you take the story on a realistic level, it's a wonderful romance. Then there's the humor. It is funny as hell a lot of the times. Like life. Sure, the film goes way over the top at times, but I looked at this as a sort of poetic depiction of how ridiculous wealthy snobs really are. These are exaggerated caricatures of a real social class. Their reactions to Pumpkin and to Carolyn's love for him are based in reality. The humor often comes from this snobbery. So, even as absurd, the film makes sense.

I know this may be unfathomable to some people, but I have often found mentally and physically challenged people cute. I certainly would have few qualms about entering into a relationship with someone challenged if I felt they were capable of understand what that meant. There is an innocence and beauty to Pumpkin that is warm and desirable. I understand this.

And as a gay man, of course, I understand the subtextural forbidden love element of the piece. This is why, as a gay man, I also find it easy to relate to "Romeo and Juliet" and "1984" as well. In a world where others do not understand your love, or would oppose its existence, there is real drama, real sweet sorrow. "Pumpkin" just understands that that drama is most noble and joyously beautiful when it is laced with humor.

Note:

Also with Brenda Blythen, Marisa Coughlin, Dominique Swain, Sam Ball, and Caroline Aaron.

Ricci is also a producer.

Put out under the Francis Ford Coppola banner of American Zoetrope. Coppola is also listed as a producer.

Andrea Sperling, who produced "But I'm a Cheerleader" also produced here.

A song by Belle and Sebastion is used quite effectively. In the last reel of the film, however, the pop songs are pushed way to far up into the mix.

Report Card Script: A Acting: A+ Cinematography\Lighting: B+ Special Effects\Make Up: A+ Music: B+ Final Grade: A-

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