Justin Theroux’s Dedication is not a happy go lucky romance. It is dark and evil and hard to watch at times. It is also an amazing debut feature by a director who will make a mark. It also begins to bring Mandy Moore into her own as an adult actress.
Henry Roth (Billy Crudup) is the last person one would expect to write children’s books. He is brooding, dark and mean spirited and barely held in check by his best friend and illustrator Rudy Holt (Tom Wilkinson). The two somehow convince a big name publisher and it’s editor Arthur Planck (Bob Balaban) to publish their book. It becomes an overnight success, and plans are made for book two. With barely a month before it is due Rudy dies, and a despondent Henry is assigned the newby Lucy to illustrate.
Mandy Moore’s Lucy is not a ray of sunshine. Her mean mother, and landlord Carol beautifully portrayed by Dianne Weist overwhelm her. Her ex-boyfriend is also courting Lucy. When Lucy and Henry are given a strict deadline they begin to press down to work and to find out about each other. Lucy is also given the added incentive of a possible $200,000 bonus is they complete on time.
Theroux films Dedication in a different way. He uses wide shots, but also seems captivated by the environment whether it is Henry’s warehouse apt or a neighborhood greasy spoon. Theroux mixes environment and music in a tapestry that transfers emotions as deeply as the discordant music. The film is Henry and Lucy. Both are not perfect to the world or to themselves. They are damaged and it seems like their own problems fight against any attempt at synergy. Mandy Moore’s Lucy bears a strong resemblance to Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club. She is always wearing dark clothes that shroud her body and face. Billy Crurup’s Henry is neurotic, and draconian in language to anyone. He is uncaring, and has the most needs. Both are striving to patch their holes.
Dedication is a strong film. It has elements of Adaptation and Elf mixed into it. The film style is close to Once in its beauty and simple stylings. It is the chemistry of Crudup and Moore that make this film worth watching more than once. It clings to emotions and stays there.