THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES

I have never heard of Fran Kranz until now. He has had a few nondescript roles in quite a few films including the recent "Dark Tower" and the 2012 horror flick "The Cabin in the Woods". Neither gave any indication of talent.

Director Phil Allocco cast him as Gilby Smalls, a natural born loser with a serious inferiority complex who is in a relationship going nowhere and a job that is less than a dead end. Quite naturally one day, his whole world falls apart when he gets fired from his job, his apartment catches fire and the girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) dumps him for a bisexual.

His best friend Kevin (Miles Fisher) invites him to a party where he meets Rachel (Odette Annable), the wife of a successful design company owner (Chris Diamantopoulos). They actually have nothing in common but something draws them together despite his self deprecating personality.

Watching the film will remind you of some of Allens best early work such as "Play It Again Sam", "Annie Hall" and "Zelig". There are some drop dead funny moments, especially an early scene Gilby goes for an IT job interview. The exchange between Kranz and the interviewer (played by Laura Kightlinger) is a belly buster.

While the story isn't necessarily unique, Kranz's delivery is spot on. The off-beat characters that are introduced throughout the film work well in cuing his insecurities. Adam David Thompson comes on perfectily as the spirituality seeking free love advocate Andy. Colleen Camp gives a nifty turn as his fast living, hard partying mother.

Probably the best thing about the film is Allocco not falling back on the same shtick over and over as many comedies do. Every scene is different and even though the outcome is predictable, it is well timed.

"The Truth About Lies" is a cool little comedy that is deceptively funny with lead Fran Kranz delivering a delightful impression of Woody Allen. -- GEOFF BURTON

GEOFF BURTON

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