DUMMY

Year: 2002
USA: Artisan Entertainment
Cast: Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich, Illeana Douglas, Vera Farmiga, Jessica Walter, Ron Leibman, Jared Harris, Mirabella Pisani, Helen Hanft, Richmond Hoxie, Adam LeFevre, Joanne Bayes, Lou Martini Jr, Gabor Morea, Edward Hibbert, Robert Larkin, Alan Semok, John Elsen, Debbie Ross, Tom Plotkin, Paul Wallfisch, Andy Senor
Director: Greg Pritikin
Country: USA
USA Rated: R for language
USA Release Date: 12 September 2003 (Limited Release)

Synopsis

Family, friendship and romance find a voice in DUMMY, the smartly offbeat and charming debut comedy from writer and director Greg Pritikin. Steven Schoichet (Adrien Brody) is browbeaten at every turn - by his family, his dead-end job and the faceless suburb where he still lives at home. That is until he decides to make a change. Ventriloquism. Hey, a dream's a dream.

His family barely pays him enough attention to even dismiss the idea - his mother (Jessica Walter) is only concerned that he eats something, and his father (Ron Liebman) only thinks of his model ships. Steven's sister (Illeana Douglas) recently broke off her engagement to an unstable accountant (Jared Harris), which makes her career as a wedding planner an emotional minefield. His only supporter is neighbor Fangora (Milla Jovovich) - really it's Fanny, but that's not very punk - who has her own aspirations to stardom.

After Steven loses his job, things actually start to turn around. He falls for his counselor at the unemployment office (Vera Farmiga), and through the best efforts of Steven and the little friend on his knee, good things start to happen for everyone around him.