Joey Magidson
Whenever an actor who rarely gets a leading role has the opportunity to headline a picture, I take notice. Whether it’s a character actor or just someone who’s rarely in the spotlight, you can often see them really make the most of this chance. Lousy Carter is that for David Krumholtz, having a bit of a moment after Oppenheimer last year. This dark comedy is more of a character study than we’ve seen out of him before, but he’s certainly the highlight.
Lousy Carter is at its best when the title character, as well as his comedic back and forth conversations with co-stars, get to shine. The filmmaking is pretty bare bones and the plot will be familiar to anyone who’s seen a film of this ilk, but Krumholtz and company hold it together. They make the movie work, without question.
Lousy Carter (Krumholtz) is a misanthropic literature professor who’s not exactly taken seriously on his college campus. He’s struggling to complete his animated Nabokov adaptation, which is years in the making, while teaching a graduate seminar on The Great Gatsby, to a mostly indifferent class. Oh, and he’s sleeping with Olivia (Jocelyn DeBoer), the wife of his best friend (Martin Starr). He details it all to his analyst (Stephen Root), though he’s about to get news that throws him for a loop. It turns out he has only six months to live.
What’s interesting here is that Lousy doesn’t really change at all. Instead, he finds a sort of peace in the news, which he details to his friend Candela (Olivia Thirlby). As the clock ticks, he begins to try to wrap things up. Interacting with colleagues, friends, family, and students alike, Lousy is still very much Lousy, for better or worse.
David Krumholtz is let loose here, portraying a character he clearly feels deep in his bones. By looking inward for the heart and humor, as well as the pain, it turns out to be one of his most complete turns to date. He’s obviously excellent in Oppenheimer and deeply underrated in Looking for Kitty, another rare central role, but this is up there with anything he’s done. Jocelyn DeBoer and Stephen Root don’t leave much of an impression, though Martin Starr and Olivia Thirlby are amusing. Supporting players here include Luxy Banner, Macon Blair, Trieste Kelly Dunn, and more.
Writer/director Bob Byington is more accomplished at the former than the latter. His script is funny and even perceptive, really capturing how a certain type of person talks. Now, his direction on the other hand, is pretty flat and relies really heavily on simple shots. In fact, it often appears like the cast aren’t even acting opposite each other, which could be a stylistic choice or just a budgetary requirement, but it comes off looking cheap. Luckily, his cast picks up the slack.
Lousy Carter is a showcase for David Krumholtz, pure and simple. He’s the selling point, alongside how he interacts with his co-stars. You’re not seeing anything new, plot-wise, but Krumholtz’s performance, alongside the type of characters depicted, makes for an interesting time at the movies. If you get on its wavelength, this is an enjoyable little flick.
SCORE: ★★★
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