Love, Ludlow

If this Sundance Film Festival selection hadn't been so intent on establishing its indie props, it might have relaxed enough to be truly engaging, but the self-conscious quirkiness of both the script by David L. Paterson (based on his play Finger Painting in a Murphy Bed) and Adrienne Weiss' direction keeps viewers at emotional arm's length from the three main characters. Myra (Alicia Goranson) is a tough office temp who doesn't take any crap from the creepy office letch; Reggie (David Eigenberg) is the shy guy who takes a shine to her over the cubicle walls; and Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III) is Myra's difficult live-in brother, who spends his days scribbling quotes from Shakespeare on construction paper to string around their Queens apartment, and won't stand for anyone—particularly not "retarded Reggie"—taking his sister away. Unfortunately, it's a tedious slog to the inevitable ending, and the “real,” non-Hollywood kookiness of this trio is not enough to make it worthwhile. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include six deleted scenes (6 min.), cast bios, a photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for a disappointing film.] (M. Johanson)