Written by Linda
December 02, 2008
Myra (Alicia Goranson) is the abrasive new temp at the big city office. She glowers as she walks down the hall, and has snappy retorts when her sleazy co-workers come on to her. So of course the office dork, the sweet and a big guileless Reggie (Sex and the City's David Eigenberg) takes a shine to her. He is almost like a puppy that will keep coming back after getting kicked. He hope eventually she'll wear down and say yes to a lunch date (ooops! don't say the word "date"!).
It all seems to go along smoothly enough until, of course, a wrench is thrown into the works. This wrench is in the form of Myra's brother Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III). Ludlow is some sort of man-child. An adult who giggles and hides under the bed and paints like a 5-year-old. But he also spouts Shakespeare, is completely manipulative to his sister, who cares for him, and often screams and throws tantrums. What are we supposed to make of him? Reggie sure doesn't know what to think, but smiles openly, willing to give the situation a whirl.
What unfolds over the course of the weekend is basically a character play between (among?) the three. Reggie wants Myra. Ludlow supposedly needs Myra. Myra doesn't want Reggie to judge her for coddling manipulative Ludlow. Reggie thinks her coddling enables Ludlow to trap her. And around and around.
Love, Ludlow has a lot going for it: the writing is sharp and often quite funny, and the characters are odd enough that you're not quite sure how they'll react. David Eigenberg is adorable as the excessively tolerant (and scared of the Big City) Midwestern guy. Alicia Goranson and Brendan Sexton III have a tougher job, as their characters are way more annoying and will likely get on your nerves at least sometime during the film. Goranson comes out the winner, if only for her hilarious deadpan office put-downs. However, I really don't think I need to hear another honking Queens accent anytime soon. As for Sexton, quite often he simply needs to be slapped. Tough love, I'm tellin' ya.
Love, Ludlow is recommendable as a quirky dark comedy and (consciously) bizarre character study. Is it a great indie? Well, no. But it is certainly enjoyable enough to pass the time with.
