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5.0 out of 5 stars
Destined to be a Christmas Classic, June 1, 2008
In Dinner at Fred's, Gil Bellows (of Ally McBeal) plays a harried executive who, afraid to fly, sets out by automobile for his snotty fiancée's mansion for Christmas. Waylaid by a snowstorm and taken in by a bizarre rural family (shades of Cold Comfort Farm), he falls in love with the couple's daughter, Celia (Posey), who rekindles his childhood passion for magic tricks. Through her, he realizes that love, family, and the spirit of Christmas trump money and a beautiful but cold fiancée.
It's a surprisingly traditional tale and theme for a Posey film: unexpectedly meeting one's true love, in the most unlikely of circumstances--at Christmas time, no less.
Shamelessly sappy, shot in a winter wonderland, the film pushes all the right buttons to get viewers to break out the Kleenex. Yet its heart-tugging magic works despite its obvious audience manipulations. Celia is a complete turnaround for Posey: guileless, trusting, simple-hearted, open, generous, optimistic, with a childlike faith and an adorable glow equal to any of Meg Ryan's romantic leads.
A traditional tale with an indie's unconventional structure (the lead heroine isn't introduced until a half hour into the film), Dinner at Fred's shows the variety and maturity achievable in the indie genre.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky comedy, August 31, 2009
This review is from: Dinner at Fred's (DVD)
Dinner At Fred's is a quirky comedy, set during Christmas and lavished with love. Just to watch Parker Posey, Gil Bellows and Christopher Lloyd (who speaks no English in the comedy) is a real treat! An alternative to all those syrupy Christmas comedies out there, for sure!
Enjoy!!!!
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