Love, Ludlow Movie Review

Tracking the careers of the two girls who played "Becky" on Roseanne can be a terribly fun sport. Sarah Chalke (Becky #2) wound up being a big star on TV's Scrubs, and she probably has a nice career ahead of her as a movie star. Alicia Goranson (Becky #1) left the show to go to college. She came back to TV and movies many years later, and after a few supporting appearances, now she's tiptoeing her way into leading roles.

I'm not sure it's gonna take.

Goranson's edgy and a little bit scary here. She's the "sane" sister, Myra, to the mentally skittish Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III), a guy who won't grow up and who persists in wrecking her life at every opportunity. When Reggie (David Eigenberg, best known as the whiny-voiced "Steve" from Sex and the City) comes into Myra's life as a suitor, Ludlow runs him out within the hour. Of course, happenstance (and the fact that this is based on a play) dictates that for 97 minutes, this trio will remain roughly together (and largely, trapped in Myra's studio apartment).

The problems here are numerous, though not terribly severe. First, Ludlow's antics -- leaving suicide notes, demanding Twinkies, screaming at the top of his lungs -- grow wearisome, and quickly. He's meant to be cute and cuddly, but he's grating. Actually, even worse is Myra, who is threatening and belligerent to everyone from Reggie to Ludlow to the hapless waiter who brings French fries instead of home fries. She's quick to wag a finger in your face and bulge her eyes out at you. Although I hated Steve on Sex and the City, I ended up feeling sorry for him here.