The Mudge Boy

A rather simple story about an estranged father and son struggling to bond in the aftermath of a family tragedy, Michael Burke's The Mudge Boy stars Emile Hirsch as Duncan Mudge, a shy, introverted 14-year-old living with his father (Richard Jenkins) on a Vermont farm. Devastated by the recent death of his mother, Duncan dotes on the chickens that were her favorites, even carting one around as a pet, but while his father is obviously suffering too, he's a taciturn type unable to reach out to his son. Meanwhile the local youths, a rough party-hearty bunch, dismiss Duncan as an oddball, although one takes a protective interest in him, leading to confused sexual tension and an act of humiliation that destroys their bond. A film that's half about dealing with grief and half about coming of age, told with a gay twist and some very peculiar barnyard humor, The Mudge Boy is ultimately more weirdly intriguing than genuinely convincing or moving. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Michael Burke, and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for an uneven film.] (F. Swietek)