ThiefHott Too much of everything

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

eyefordetail I had the privilege of meeting Demetri Martin for the first time in this movie. Written, acted, directed and visuals. Which perhaps gives me a perspective not tainted by expectations or comparisons. I found the slow burn dry humour wonderfully fresh and exceptionally entertaining. The movie is well balanced and never goes down a rabbit hole of grief, awkwardness, friendship or life. Like a mini-golf game, the ball circles these holes masterfully and skillfully. This is a family movie without the grit in the eye and smut that clutters our screens so frequently. The soundtrack was spot-on and my 18-year-old daughter connected to the movie through this angle. In all, a good movie with a good simple story masterfully crafted. I will follow Demetri with keen interest from now on. He stirred my Woody Allen genes, which says a lot about the level his talent is benchmarked at. By me, that is. A pleasant saturday evening movie with a nice glass of Pinot.

Jacob Studebaker I've been a fan of Demetri Martin since I was 12/13. His awkward humor and use of drawings had been so funny to look at and I even own one of his books, "This is a Book." When I heard Demetri was soon going to have a film released, I was excited as all hell! So I quickly checked the first run theater where I saw Trainspotting 2 at to see if they had Dean, and was promptly disappointed they weren't screening it. A day later, I saw they WERE screening it and IMMEDIATELY drove over to go see it. I've read reviews saying the film played it safe, which I suppose I have to agree with to some extent. I haven't seen a lot of Rom-comedies, mostly because they all end the same where the couple either gets together or dies, so seeing Dean advertised as a Rom-com worried me. What sets "Dean" apart is it's use of clever cinematography and the fact that unlike other comedies these days, ITS ACTUALLY FUNNY. In a sea of terrible films like "Snatched" or "Office Christmas Party," this film made me laugh from the very beginning and gave me faith in the indie market. The cinematography is also very clever. There's one shot where Dean is sitting in a restaurant drawing and when his dad calls him about selling the house and Dean persistently comes up with reasons why the house shouldn't be sold, we see a young child in the background also drawing on the tablecloth to show how Dean is coming up with childish reasons to avoid selling the house. "DEAN" is one of my favorite films of the year, and I'll definitely go see again because of the clever writing, clever cinematography, superb acting, and also because ITS ACTUALLY FUNNY. Overall, I give "Dean" an 8.6/10.

mblumenfield-02427 We learn at the beginning of the story that a father and his grown son have just lost a wife and mother and are about to begin the grieving process.The father is played by two time Oscar winner Kevin Kline who turns in an outstanding performance. Likewise Dean, the son, is played by Demetri Martin in a excellent break through performance.. So is the director, screenwriter and producer also in the person of Demetri Martin. An important part of the story are single panel cartoons which are interspersed throughout the film and focuses the mood and irony of various situations in the movie. These drawings are also by Demetri Martin. So who is Demetri Martin? He has been a stand up comic for many years, has worked with Conan O'Brien on TV and has published a book of his own cartoons . He is obviously very talented and was able to draw upon his own experience of having lost a parent at a young age and his understanding of the universal search for love combined with a finely honed sense of humor.Despite the initial premise of the story, this is really not a sad or tearjerker of a story, except the few times that Dean listens to a saved message on his iPhone of his late mom giving him words of encouragement. This is more a story of exploring different ways of grieving, as well as budding love of both a young and older man. It also uses two great exciting American cities that traditionally have been a backdrop for cinematic romance, New York( Brooklyn) and Los Angeles. The two respective women who have stirred the potential of deep romantic feelings in father and son at a time that they were on opposite coasts were Nicky (Gillian Jacobs) and Carol (Mary Steenburgen). Many of Dean's buddies in the movie, are played by actors and comics who have captured the beat of his generation.The net result of this 87 minute film is a feel good experience which reminds us that the connection between loss and new love is natural and inevitable. We highly recommend this movie. It is funny and poignant with surprising depth. (2017)

SaintPaul Seen at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival. Written and directed by Demitri Martin, with a nice role for Kevin Kline. A nice mixture of laugh-out-loud humor, but also a surprising melancholy pervades throughout the film. Martin's very clever drawings take a central role in the movie, too. This is a story that isn't new or groundbreaking, but Martin infuses it with his own wit and wisdom, and the results are a very enjoyable and thoughtful first feature. Highly recommended.