Kevin Bacon directs and also appears in this low-key adaptation of Victoria Redel's novel about a mother's obsessive love for her son. In fact, Loverboy is quite the family affair off-screen as well as on, with Bacon's wife Kyra Sedgwick playing the mother, and his daughter Sosie in a supporting role. Single mom Emily Stoll is so intent on raising a child alone that she deliberately sleeps with a succession of men to ensure that her baby has no identifiable father. Afterwards, she showers her son (Dominic Scott Kay) with attention and advantage, calling him “Loverboy” and planning out every detail of his life. But her monomaniacal efforts backfire when the boy decides he just wants to be a normal kid. Unfortunately, the rather thin plot never really explains why Emily has such a compelling need to control her son, and Bacon has a bit of a problem with the film's tone—we're never sure if we're watching a comedy or a tragedy. But Loverboy abounds in sharply observed characters and terrific performances, beginning with those of Kay and Sedgwick—the former has a natural likeability, while the latter makes Emily sympathetic even when she's engaging in monstrous behavior. The supporting players—including Matt Dillon, Oliver Platt, Campbell Scott, and an unbilled Sandra Bullock—contribute brief but memorable turns (in flashbacks, Bacon portrays Emily's father and Sosie plays the obsessive mother at age 12). The fine ensemble work helps offset the paucity of plot, making this a strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)
Loverboy
Screen Media, 86 min., R, DVD: $27.99 Volume 21, Issue 6
Loverboy
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