Splendor

Splendor

Splendor

Cast: Kathleen Robertson, Johnathon Schaech, Matt Keeslar, Kelly Macdonald, Eric Mabius

You might expect a mnage  trois movie called Splendor to be some sort of steamy, soft-lit sex romp, but it is, in fact, a witty, sassy romantic comedy. Writer-director Gregg Araki set out to make a '30s screwball comedy with a modern twist, and he's mostly succeeded. Splendor is brisk and funny, and if it seems a bit convenient that two guys could love (and sleep with) one woman without killing each other, it's all in the service something bigger--the story of a woman forced to choose between love and security. Kathleen Robertson has a certain impish charm (which unfortunately wears thin at times), Johnathon Schaech and Matt Keeslar are fun as the rivals who ultimately become best buds, but it's Eric Mabius who quietly steals every scene he's in as a TV movie director who's so thoughtful and kind, yet self-absorbed, that he might comfort his bride-to-be on their wedding day by sweetly telling her, "Honey, Amazon.com says I stole every scene I'm in, isn't that great?"