Mumford is an imposter! This young man comes to town posing as a psychologist, who hears the citizens in town vent about their various neuroses. Because he's such a good listener, these citizens eventually talk themselves into curing themselves. (Of course, the idea of "curing by talking" completely trivializes the profession of psychotherapy...unless you're a Rogerian...but that's another story.) Basically, this film by Lawrence Kasdan, is a series of monologues, in which each of the townsfolk tells his/her problems to Mumford(the camera.) Because these "arias" are so well acted (by actors like Mary McDonnell, Martin Short, Alfre Woodard, Hope Davis, and Ted Dansen,)while they're happening, the film is very entertaining. But in between, and there's a lot of "in between," the story falls flat...VERY flat.

In the small town of Mumford, a psychologist with the same last name as the town has recently moved in and is now curing the townspeople of their problems. Conflict begins when we find out that Dr. Mumford is not really who or what he says he is and he falls in love with one of his patients. While the story itself is original, it is also filled with lots of gaping holes. What is really likeable here, however, are the characters. Mumford himself is charming and I particularly liked relationship between him and the women he falls for, Sophie. One thing I have to ask, though -why do they put Jason Lee in movies? He can't act for shit.