Episode 8.5 - Purple Violets Review - 8/10

Purple Violets - 2008 - Edward Burns

Independent films have the ability to surprise you because they can't fall back on big actors and big special effects; they simply focus on story. Because they don't have big actors and big special effects it's difficult to be excited about them and they tend to wade in the bargain bins at electronic stores and be pushed to the bottom of the shelves at Blockbuster hoping that someone comes along just looking for something that's good with only a paragraph on the back to sell them.

Purple Violets is one that met this same fate, which is unfortunate because in a world of irrational adult romantic comedies where impossible situations and gimmicks lead to “just enough charm to work,” this was a breath of fresh air, presenting two characters who don't just seem like they'll be a good couple, but seem like they'll be a good couple for the rest of their life.

Violets focuses around the story of Patti (Selma Blair) and Brian (Patrick Wilson, who still is not getting as much credit as he deserves) who met in college with the same hopes and dreams but whose lives went drastically different directions. Both aspiring writers, Brian became a huge success by following the path of John Grisham and James Patterson, with law dramas and murder mysteries that flew off the shelf because readers fell in love with the recurring characters, though his latest attempts to “breakaway and write something for him” have backfired on his reputation. Patti couldn't reach that level, publishing a compliation of short stories that, though receiving high marks, just never could find a mainstream audience. As a result, she now works in New York City selling apartments for a slimy boss who obviously hired her for her looks, but criticizes her because that's all she can seem to deliver on. Writing is that thing she maybe considers if she gets free time, but ultimately it's an afterthought.

Patti and Brian also have the struggle of being in crummy relationships that they are eager to get out of, which, by meeting each other, makes it that much easier to do. The two inspire each other from the get-go, admiring each other's work despite the response it's received from the general public. Everything else disappears when the two are around each other as they rehash their old relationship and talk about the crazy trips they've had over the years. The chemistry between Wilson and Blair is spot on, it just feels right to watch these two and I can see them as a real couple. They play off each others words, the little gestures and moments of sweetness are the kinds that make you say “that's how its done.” It's simply pleasant, but not overdone because perfect would be too easy.

These two don't start the story together, but instead, they have a chance meeting at a downtown restaurant while with their best friends, Kate (Debra Messing) and Mike (Edward Burns), who also happen to have a history together. Originally college sweethearts, Kate left Mike thinking that he cheated on her during a time where he was a raging alcoholic. Knowing it's not true, Mike feels an obligation to apologize and clear up the confusion, which is what brings the males and females together in the first place. Though Mike and Kate's story interjects at proper places throughout this film, Violets never loses focus on the true connection between Patti and Brian, using this other relationship as occasional comic relief and to strengthen the inevitable bonds that all four of these characters will have after the filmed story concludes, which makes watching this that much sweeter.

The beauty of this film comes from a few things. For starters, it only focuses on these four characters. The extra characters that are thrown in are because the plot demands them, not because there just aren't enough jokes or stereotypes to make fun of. They also take on rational thinking. There's two authors, a lawyer and a teacher, these are smart people and they come across that way. There are a few points in the movie where the characters look at what's going on and take a step back and say “what's the smartest play here” and really, you kind of understand.

Purple Violets wasn't the most amazing of films and shouldn't have passed itself off as a romantic comedy, but it wasn't afraid to stay true to what good common sense would dictate. It didn't want the gimmicks or the dirty humor and never resorted to a cheap laugh; it's the kind of film that very well could happen and I really enjoyed watching it. It didn't take easy outs and some of those sentimental moments really worked well. I've seen too many romantic comedies that have a solid story but just feel necessary to go over the top with something be it character or story or sex humor (usually sex humor) that it just gets in the way of something truly good. Violets stayed consistent and even though that didn't make it AS entertaining minute by minute, it was a refreshing change of pace.

I give it an 8 dustbuster out of 10 rating and the safe words “I was very pleasantly surprised.”