The Resurrection of Groucho Marx

Author(s): Pat
Location: NY

"The Resurrection of Groucho Marx"

Directed by Zach Braff
Written by Zach Braff

Main Cast
Jake Gyllenhaal (Richard Sampson)
Eugene Levy (Tom Sampson)
Kate Hudson (Olivia DeNourre)
Vince Vaughn (Bryan Newbriar)
Miranda Richardson (Carol Sampson)
Rainn Wilson (Louis Vetter)
Ginnifer Goodwin (Kate Sampson)

Tagline: "N/A"

Synopsis: Richard Sampson (Jake Gyllenhaal) was an up-and-coming minor league baseball player. He had an amazing wife (Ginnifer Goodwin) and two children that he loved. Richard Sampson had a perfect life…until a horrible home invasion leaves Richard without a family. Afterwards, he quits his job and moves in with his parents, Tom (Eugene Levy) and Carol (Miranda Richardson). Back at home, Richard begins to delve into his childhood by examining his toys and watching movies he loved as a kid. One movie, “Duck Soup”, gives Richard an astounding idea. He wants the world to enjoy the genius of Groucho Marx even though the comic is long dead. Richard intends to become the greatest impressionist by climbing the ranks from street performance to worldwide acclaim. He hires Bryan Newbriar (Vince Vaughn), a flamboyant fashion designer, to create the image of Groucho Marx while Olivia DeNourre (Kate Hudson) is brought on the team for publicity. Richard begins performing in Times Square and slowly rises to more fame, but he is constantly asked about why he is doing it and Richard cannot explain it. “The Resurrection of Groucho Marx” is a moving story about dealing with loss and the simple joys that memories can bring.

What the Press would say:
In “Garden State”, Zach Braff showed that he could grasp the idea of a dramedy and turn it into a fantastic piece of art. His sophomore effort, “The Resurrection of Groucho Marx” is a perfect example of a film with a balance of comedy and drama that rivals Woody Allen’s. The story is about a man whose family is murdered and he returns home to his parents and becomes obsessed with his childhood hero, Groucho Marx. He eventually becomes a great impersonator that travels the country with aims at becoming famous. But the film is more than just the character’s rise to fame. It is about dealing with grief in whichever way is possible. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the lead with stunning emotions and a surprisingly good impression of the early cinema comic genius. Gyllenhaal plays the character so well that in the beginning he goes from absolute depression and sadness to a sense of completion and joy by the closing credits. This is, by far, his best performance to date. Kate Hudson also stars as Gyllenhaal’s agent who has a hard time grasping the fact that her client is chasing an impossible dream. Her delivery of anger mixed with sadness (because she secretly is attracted to Gyllenhaal’s character) is good enough to surpass her role in “Almost Famous”. Rainn Wilson and Vince Vaughn play out most of the comic relief and prove that they are two of the funniest men in film. Vaughn, especially, shines as a gay fashionista without being offensive or over-the-top. He is just perfect. Eugene Levy surprises with a shockingly unfunny role as Gyllenhaal’s father who wants his son to be happy. At some points it seems that his character is even more depressed than Gyllenhaal’s. Overall, “The Resurrection of Groucho Marx” is a fantastic comedy with heart that delves into the world of depression and loss.

FYC
Best Picture (M/C)
Best Director-Zach Braff
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor-Jake Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor-Eugene Levy
Best Supporting Actor-Vince Vaughn
Best Supporting Actress-Kate Hudson