An unexpected treat. The Nines stars Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, and Melissa McCarthy, each of whom plays multiple roles in a series of three stories, with the connections among the three being revealed only gradually.
In "The Prisoner," Reynolds is Gary, star of a crappy TV crime drama, who melts down after a bad breakup and winds up under house arrest. McCarthy plays the publicist who winds up babysitting him, and Davis is the flirty neighbor who tries to talk Gary into violating his arrest by leaving with her.
"Reality Television" finds Reynolds playing Gavin, a TV writer who's filming a pilot called Knowing, about a woman trying to solve the mystery of her husband's disappearance. Gavin has written the role specifically for his best friend, Melissa McCarthy; Davis plays the network executive who breaks the news that the network loves everything about the pilot except Melissa.
The third story, "Knowing," is (in part) that pilot film. McCarthy is the mom and Reynolds is the dad, who has to hike out for help when their car battery dies far enough into the wilderness that they can't use their cell phones. Davis plays Sierra, the stranger who may (or may not) be their salvation.
The three principal actors are terrific in their multiple roles; Reynolds proves to be a far better actor than he's been allowed to show in the dumb comedies he's been doing. The standout for me, though, is Melissa McCarthy, who I previously knew only from Gilmore Girls; she's especially good in the opening segment, where she displays crack comic timing and a great way with bitchy zingers.
The wrapup delves into philosophy and spirituality in a slightly cheesy fashion, but at least it makes sense and you don't leave scratching your head or feeling like the victim of an intellectual mugging, and the three stories that lead up to that ending are all sharply written and highly entertaining. The Nines is only getting a one-week art-house run here in Los Angeles, so if you're in a smaller town, you may have to wait for DVD or cable, but definitely keep an eye open for this one.
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