JUST LOOKING

2000

The Boston Film Festival came to an end, not with a bang, but with a whimper. This, simple coming-of-age film tells the story of Lenny, a 13-year-old Jewish boy from the Bronx, who spends the summer of 1955 with his young aunt and uncle in the "country" in Queens, New York! It's the directorial debut of Jason Alexander, and it's not a very successful one. If the film is autobiographical, then at least Lenny/Jason had some unforgetable adventures during this transitional summer. His goal was to observe two adults having sex! Unfortunately, Alexander didn't know how to make these adventures come alive on screen; they just sit there. All of the acting was exaggerated, as were the accents. Chief culprit(after Alexander) was Patti LuPone as Lenny's mom. Don't hold your breath waiting for this one to come to your neighborhood cineplex!!!

2 Stars

NJB