Milwaukee, Minnesota

This quirky little film feels like Forrest Gump on ice. Troy Garity plays Albert, a young man who appears to be mildly retarded, living a dead-end existence in a boring photocopy shop job and kowtowing to an emotionally demanding mother. When his mom dies in a hit-and-run car accident, Albert becomes a local celebrity and figure of interest 1) due to his ability to win ice-fishing competitions (he talks to his piscine prey, coaxing them into being captured) and 2) the fact that he's come into a considerable inheritance. Not surprisingly, a variety of con artists try to take advantage of Albert, ranging from a grifter pretending to be his long-lost dad to a lady who claims that Albert is utterly irresistible. But Albert's mental acumen may, in fact, be up to the challenge of these petty hustlers. Garity (the son of Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden) is charming and amusing as Albert, but the real draw here is the killer supporting cast: Randy Quaid as the phony father, Bruce Dern as Albert's boss (who considers himself to be a father figure), Alison Folland as the would-be love interest, and especially Debra Monk as the domineering and doomed mother. These pros know how to turn on the acting juice and they make Milwaukee, Minnesota an engaging indie treat. Recommended. (P. Hall)