Barney seems to sail precariously through his drama-packed life, but we are never sure how or why. At the reception party for his second marriage his falls head over heals for a total stranger after one breathtaking glimpse and pursues her recklessly and persistently for months until she caves in just when he manages to get un-wed again. The fact that Miriam is played by the sublime Rosamund Pike makes sense, but why a beauty should fall for an unkempt overweight vulgar un-attractive mess like Barney doesn’t. But they do marry, make a life together, have two children and live happily for years until Barney blows it all and even Miriam’s seemingly endless patience can take no more.
I’ve skipped through what is rather a lengthy plot which starts with a young Barney sowing his wild oats in the 1970’s to the present time when is grappling with the onslaught of Alzheimer’s. Despite all the detail, and the fact that he is essentially a very likable character, we never get to really know who Barney is. Paul Giametti is in his element playing yet another irascible excessive oddball man who both irritates and intrigues us at the same time and who we cannot fail to like (think Harvey Pekar in ‘American Splendor’, and Miles in ‘Sideways’). His energetic and intense performance makes this rambling and slightly confusing comic drama based on Mordecai Richter’s best selling novel well worth watching.
R.T.V. Mr. Giametti’s star turn may have won him a Best Actor Golden Globe, but if there was another award for scene stealing, I would un-hesitantly give it to Dustin Hoffman who is superbly funny as Barney’s father. However, I would reserve the main prize to remarkable talented Brit actor Rosamund Pike who’s quiet understated performance as the put-upon wife was a sheer joy to watch in this her first , hopefully of many, Hollywood leading roles.
