MUMFORD
STARS: *** �
DIRECTOR: Lawrence Kasdan
PRINCIPLE CAST:
- Loren Dean
- Hope Davis
- Jason Lee
- Alfre Woodard
TAGLINE: Some towns have all the fun
Mumford is a prime example that sometimes an audience does not know a good thing. Just
because a movie makes hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, it does not mean it is
necessarily a great movie. Let�s face it, Double Jeopardy made tons of money in 1999, but,
though I must say I enjoyed it, it cannot compare with this film. Mumford is a quirky
little tale about how the residence of the quaint town of Mumford learn to better themselves
with the help of a psychologist, who, not so coincidentally, is also named Mumford.
Little does the unsuspecting town realize that they are putting all their trust and secrets in
the hands of an imposter, and to their advantage.
Dr. Mumford, played by Loren Dean, is a blessing to the small hamlet and all its wacky
inhabitants. From an over fantastical pharmacist, to a male-order addicted housewife, from an
appearance-focused teenager, to a chronic fatigue sufferer, Dr. Mumford manages to solve
everyone�s problems, though not through convention. Jason Lee stars as Skip Skipperton, the local
multibillionaire who uses therapy as a way to gain a friend. The therapist and the rich boy
strike up a rapport that causes each to reveal their deep secrets to one another.
As the story unfolds, the lives of each of Mumford�s patients intertwine and what develops is a
convoluted love story. Mumford manages to set up each of his patients and/or friends with one
another, perhaps intentionally or unintentionally. Sadly, Mumford and Hope Davis� character,
Sofie Crisp�s, doctor-patient relationship restricts them from pursuing their mutual affection
for each other. Predictably, the truth behind Mumford is investigated and the story leads to a
quasi-happy ending.
Mumford is a delightful little film that investigates the human spirit and how
sometimes the simplest clues can lead us to realize what is missing in our life. Sometimes all it
takes is a stranger to show us that there is nothing wrong with our life but the way we see it.
If we could look at our life from a whole new angle we could really appreciate what is there.
Mumford is not a typical feel-good movie; it is a feel-better movie. The Big Chill
creator, Lawrence Kasdan, has done it again. With it�s delightful cast (highlighted by Alfre
Woodard, Jason Lee, Hope Davis, and Mumford himself, Loren Dean), adorable storyline, and lovably
unique characters, Mumford is one of the most under-appreciated films of the year.
Delightful!
