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FLANNEL PAJAMAS Send This Review to a Friend
Romantic relationships are tricky no matter the age group involved. Writer-director Jeff Lipsky’s intriguingly titled “Fannel Pajamas” contributes an entertainingly incisive look at the trajectory following the meeting on a blind date of a man and woman in their thirties who are instantly smitten with each other. Many will identify with them in some way, and the superb performances by Justin Kirk and Julianne Nicholson as the couple further elevate the already strong material that adds up to a kind of “Scenes from a Marriage,” American style.
What contributes to the interest is that other relationships along the way involving family come under the microscope too, thereby giving the film further depth and underscoring that romantic love isn’t likely to occur in a vacuum but can be influenced by outside factors. Lipsky has said that the film is in part reflective of events in his own life. It’s clear that he has learned much along the way, at least enough to pack his screenplay with detail and finely observed behavior.
Stuart (Kirk) is an energetic marketing man whose specialty is turning Broadway shows into hits. Nicole (Nicholson) hopes one day to open a catering business. Each is in that frame of mind known to so many on the dating circuit. The hope is there for meeting Ms. or Mr. Right and on each encounter there is a weighing of the question: Could this be the one?
Something clicks right away when Stuart and Nicole meet in New York. Stuart, who flashes a monumental ego, wants to prove his love, and in addition to giving Nicole money to pay off a student loan, he has a more earthy way of showing commitment. Discover that one for yourself. The film traces their early sexual contact and the pleasure they find in each other’s fully revealed bodies.
But looking at the couple from an audience perspective, you may see warning signs before the characters do, another aspect that adds interest to the film. Differences begin to stand out. She’s a Catholic from Montana and has a close relationship with her problem family, including a mother who paints and harbors anti-Semitic resentment toward Stuart, who is Jewish. He has a psychologically disturbed brother and a father with whom he is not a close as they should be. Nicole has a close woman friend whom she regards as part of her emotional support system. There’s a burning baby issue: Nicole wants a child sooner than Stuart does.
What begins to gather momentum is Nicole’s feeling that Stuart is so self-absorbed that he doesn’t really listen to her needs despite his protestations of love. The bumps in the road are getting bigger.
Lipsky keeps the story on an honest track by illuminating rather than manipulating his characters. Perhaps there is too much packed into the drama, but “Flannel Pajamas” has a recognition factor and should resonate with those who have gone through, are in the midst of or are hungry to find relationships on which to build.
Kirk is especially known for his work In the HBO film “Angels in America,” as well as for his television role in “Weeds.” Nicholson is a regular on the TV series “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” Their work in “Flannel Pajamas” is especially demanding, and they are up to the task. The supporting cast is also strong, including Rebecca Schull as Nicole’s mother, Jamie Harrold as Stuart’s brother, Chelsea Altman as Nicole’s friend and Tom Bower as Stuart’s father. A Gigantic Pictures release.
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