Chicago Tribune Review

'Running Funny' ★★★


'Running Funny' stars Louis Zorich, Maximilian Osinski, Gene Gallerano
3 stars

By Maureen M. Hart
November 21, 2008

"Running Funny," filmmaker Anthony Grippa's screen adaptation of his uncle Charles Evered's play, captures three men—two young, one old—at crucial life junctures.

Michael (Maximilian Osinski) and Eddie (Gene Gallerano) are just out of college and so broke they're pondering the rental of an "apartment garage" as they strategize their job searches (the latter, the "brains" of the operation, is desperate to get out of his parents' home, and the former is an orphan with limited options). Their potential landlord, Stan (well-known character actor and Chicago native Louis Zorich), is a crusty widower with a take-it-or-leave-it demeanor and a few secrets. Once moved in, hard by Stan's Mercedes, they figure 30 days will be enough to land employment and improve their prospects. Their real task, it turns out, is to find themselves.

A young Paul Giamatti played Michael onstage in 1988, and Osinski brings a similar wounded soulfulness to the part. Gallerano is suitably high-strung as the know-it-all Eddie, and Zorich excels as a man whose vision is impaired but who sees more than the boys think he can. Grippa was 24 when he worked on this film, and though he doesn't always know when to tell his stars to pull back on the histrionics, he manages to hit the right emotional chords overall.

U.S. Theatrical Premiere!!

"Running Funny" will have a one-week run at Facets Cinematheque in Chicago beginning on November 21st!! The film were screen through November 26th, so if you or someone you know is in the Chicago area, please tell them about the screenings and go check out the film!

Visit www.facets.org for more info and to purchase tickets.

DVD news coming soon...