Catch and Release (2006)

"...a heartfelt romance...an interesting story made believable through terrific performances...  Diana Saenger, ReelTalk
"...appealing...movie of considerable charm...  Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

Editor's Note Screenwriter Susannah Grant makes her directorial debut in this tale of love, loss, and finding new love. Gray Wheeler's (Jennifer Garner) wedding day is not going as planned. Instead of walking down the aisle in her wedding gown, she is at the funeral of her fiancé, Grady, following his accidental death on a trip meant to be his bachelor party. To make ends meet, Gray puts her things in storage and moves in with Grady's roommates, levelheaded and attentive Dennis (Sam Jaeger) and quirky yet lovable Sam (Kevin Smith). With childhood friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant) in from L.A. and crashing on the couch, it's a full house. Inhabiting Grady's old room, Gray soon learns that her fiancé had been keeping some big secrets from her and may not have been the man she thought he was. Perhaps more importantly, she discovers some surprising things about herself, and her ability to heal and love again. Each of the characters in this film has to find a way to survive the devastating loss of a man who held them all together. Garner effectively conveys Gray's heartbreak and confusion without going over the top. As Fritz, Olyphant pulls off the role of the mystery man who is always charming but often misunderstood. Jaeger is earnest and heartfelt as Grady's roommate and business partner. But Smith is the scene-stealer here, with deadpan delivery and great timing as a Celestial Seasonings employee spouting philosophical quotes from the herbal tea company's packaging. Juliette Lewis appears as a sexy, slightly flaky, Californian massage therapist who is also a skeleton in Grady's closet.

	Jennifer Garner
	Juliette Lewis
	Kevin Smith
	Timothy Olyphant
	Anne V. Coates - Editor
	B.T. - Original Music By
	Brent Thomas - Production Designer
	Casey Grant - Executive Producer
	John Lindley - Cinematographer
	Josh Siegel - Producer
	Shannon Grover - Art Director
	Susannah Grant - Director
	Susannah Grant - Writer
	Tommy Stinson - Original Music By

New York Times
"Ms. Garner and Mr. Olyphant could pass as younger siblings of Julia Roberts and Johnny Depp....[The film's] affection for its characters doesn't feel cynical." 01/26/2007 p.E10

Total Film
3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he real revelation here is the supporting cast, with top honours going to Kevin Smith....Smith shows the sort of flair for spot-on comic acting usually saved for his own films' screenplays." 05/01/2007 42

Reel.com 8 of 10
Catch and Release is a well-acted, truthfully written film--there's just too much of it (about 20 minutes too much). This isn't great news for a movie with a story as slight and Lifetime-ready as this one. In fact, much of the time it feels like a "director's cut," filled with scene after scene of future DVD bonus material. Writer/director Susannah Grant (an Oscar winner for the Erin Brockovich script) seems so intent on covering every emotional beat and giving every character their due that she ends up with much that's easy to watch, but often unnecessary...If only director Grant had "sacrificed" the film's many extraneous moments, Catch and Release might've been a more wholly satisfying journey of the heart. That said, it's still sincere and likeable enough to be forgiven for its obvious missteps. - Gary Goldstein