This solitary act sends him neither to heaven nor to hell but to purgatory – a dull, colorless place where nobody smiles. Here, he gets a job working in a grotesque pizzeria while “living” out the same boring existence he had before he died.
Then, through a not-so-strange chain of events he befriends Eugene (Shea Whigham) and Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon). They set off on a road-tripping adventure that’s reminiscent of the same wide-eyed whimsical optimism found in The Wizard of Oz.
The greatest thing that Wristcutters has going for it is a wonderful cast. Hipster darlings like Sossamon (The Rules of Attraction) and singer Tom Waits are worth the price of admission. Even funnyman Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”) puts in a noteworthy cameo.
Unfortunately, a lot of slow-moving scenes, coupled with stagnant dialogue, are too big a hindrance to make this a must-see. Despite its ending, this movie’s overall suggestion of a love story between the main characters is charming but not dealt with in a strong enough way to make it believable.
Grade: C-
Wristcutters: A Love Story releases in select theaters Oct. 26.