I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With

I want a better ending   September 19, 2008
For his debut film as writer/director Jeff Garlin plays with the oft told tale of a shy, sensitive, lonely, in this case fat guy who is just looking for love but not having any luck finding a woman who will accept him and make him feel whole. How many times have we seen this in the films of Woody Allen or even Garden State or countless others? An unconventional looking actor writes himself a leading man role in a film he is going to direct his way and cast a super hot actress who will love him and adore him and be accepting of all his faults. Garlin stars as an overweight thirty something still living with his mother who has a routine of going to the convenience store late at night and binging on junk food which he eats on the hood of his car while looking at the stars above. His job consists of playing cruel pranks on people on a stupid hidden camera show. His heart is not in it and he quits. His other passion is performing in Chicago's legendary Second City. (Many Second City alums are in the film some more famous and recognizable than others.) One day after he walks out of a support group for over eaters and other addicts he stops off at an ice cream shop and meets Beth (Sarah Silverman). She asks him a sexually forward question that initially throws him but then he soon takes that as interest on her part. The two begin an awkward courtship that starts off with a short walk in the park followed by a conversation about how both of them are lonely and want someone or as Beth puts it after observing a couple on a picnic feeding each other " I want someone to eat cheese with." After the two agree that they want the same thing Beth invites him to go underwear shopping with her. Silverman is of course very beautiful and funny and her acting here is so so. This is also her first romantic lead whereas in other films she has played the best friend of the romantic lead. She is great in it she embodies everything you would want in a girl. This is why the way her character develops is so disappointing. Without giving anything away as her and Jeff continue to date I didn't believe what happened. It was too abrupt and too unexplained. Frankly Beth and Silverman aren't that perfect and likeable and it really threw me. I feel that the fault is less Silverman's even though she is naturally sarcastic but more in Garlin's writing. Perhaps it is to feel more sympathy for Jeff's plight and being unlucky but it just doesn't seem realistic to me and since there is no explanation given save for one or two dismissive sentences it was really disappointing to have things go in that direction. Bonnie Hunt is very good as a school teacher that Garlin has also met around the time that he meets Beth. The running joke in the film is Jeff talking about his favorite film Marty which starred Ernest Borgnine. He finds out that there is a remake about to be made and he is frustrated that he can't even get an audition. He finds out that the remake is going to be targeted at teenage girls and so Aaron Carter will play the lead. I don't like Carter but his scene as the new Marty is one of the funniest things in the movie. Overall the film is decent and has some smart writing and funny bits and the acting is good from everyone but the way the Jeff and Beth relationship turned out really made me not like this film as much. When it was good between the two of them it was a really sweet movie to watch.

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A subtle American comedy - maybe that's the problem.....   August 20, 2008
In this off-kilter movie Jeff Garlin creates something special and different with a great supporting cast.

If you enjoyed movies such as, 'You, Me and Everyone We Know', 'Junebug', 'Mind The Gap' and even, 'Little Miss Sunshine' you might want to see, 'I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With'.

While it's more of a comedy than any of the afore-mentioned, it shares certain traits - an interest in regular people and their lives, wry observations about the rapport that familial relationships and old friendships are founded on and a quiet feeling of abundance, even when things are going 'wrong'.

Jeff Garlin's character, James, has many things happen to him, such as losing multiple jobs in what seems to be the space of a day, but I was stuck how the possibility of money problems or 'survival issues' never played any role in the story - which in this culture is quite refreshing. It was also interesting that, in the end, James found the answers to his 'problems' from within his own life. There were no dramatic additions to his life or convenient solutions. His lack of need to control allowed his life to sort itself out. Like 'Groundhog Day' I think this movie would be of interest to psychologists.

There were many times while watching that I laughed out loud. Mr. Garlin is excellent - I don't know if much acting was required and it doesn't matter because he's so likable being himself. He's supported by an equally competent cast, some familiar some not. The actress who plays his mom is particularly funny - but again, in an understated way.

Having read other reviews here I was frankly surprised at the reaction, or lack of, to this movie. All I can assume is that many people expected Mr. Garlin to appear in something exactly like 'Curb You Enthusiasm' or have seen 'The Dark Knight' too many times. It does have the subtle, observational wit of 'Curb' but not the outrageous situations and certainly not the high volume dialog.

Finally, I'd like to thank the reviewers who panned this movie, they've enabled me to buy the DVD in 'like new' condition for under $5.00.

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quirky, but...   August 15, 2008
I too have to agree with the reviewer who points out how cute Sarah Silverman is (admittedly a strong point that lead me to get the movie) - - in addition, how similar Jeff Garlin looks to George Wendt (not a factor in renting the movie... However, his acting in CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM was.) Ergo... I got the film...

Although not well directed, the movie does have that Larry David/CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM style of quirky observational humor... and the film has a charm... All in all, a nice film to watch one time, though not sure I'd want to see it over and over - - My guess is that had Garlin stuck to writing and acting and the script and cast were virtually the same, but a Christopher Guest or Woody Allenesque director were pulled in, it really would have worked...

As for the story, its about an aspiring actor/compulsive overeater who at age 39 still live with his mother...
His life is falling apart, until he meets Beth (Silverman's character)... a cheerfully yet somewhat mentally ill/sexually uninhibited chubby chaser who work's at her sister's ice cream parlor. The film unfolds at its own pace, but is held together by Garlin, Silverman and company... (Most interestingly, Garlin pretty much plays a character similar to the one in CURB, and Silverman is definitely herself, so fans of both will enjoy, though sometimes its a bit awkward.)

In conclusion... quite a few laugh out loud scenes, but don't expect to be blown away...

Includes a cameo by Amy Sedaris as well as many other recognizable faces.

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"Who Cut The Cheese?" (2 of 2 Found this Helpful)   August 12, 2008
Or like the French (and some ugly Americans like me) say, "Qui couper le frommage?"

OK, now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'll admit I enjoyed "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With."

"Cheese" communicates in a very innocent, direct and quirky method, that is entirely endearing. Its difficult not to develop some affection for Jeff Garlin. This movie is essentially a "stream of experience" about Jeff's life as an nice, aimless, affable, funny, fat jewish guy.

Sarah Silverman delivers a performance that could (or will) be right out of "The Sarah Silverman Program." Bonnie Hunt is wonderful as the school teacher, and Dan Castellaneta is great as the store owner.

I'm going to watch it again to make sure I don't miss any of the great humor, like when the homeless guy refuses to wear the pirate costume saying, "I'm a homeless guy. All I have left is my dignity."

This would have been five stars, but as the movie begins to build toward what I thought might be the most important scenes, it suddenly ends. Perhaps demonstrating my interest in the film, I felt ripped-off, like someone had just deleted a huge chunk somewhere in the second half of the DVD. The last scene, which was supposed to be very meaningful, was probably set up by the missing material, so it just seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Its as if the producer of the movie, like Jeff Garlin's character, full of talented self-doubt, got off to a great start but suddenly loses his nerve just before closing the deal with the audience.

Still, you can't discount the good intentions and honesty of this little film. Basically, Jeff is someone I'd like to meet, I think he'd be a lot of fun.

Oh well. I'd be inclined to try a Jeff Garlin production again, hoping for some of the same quirky honesty.

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KEPT WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN   August 12, 2008
maybe it was too subtle for me, but nothing happened. it was also depressing. not what I'd expected. Curb Your Enthusiasm is much more entertaining.

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