DVD Review: Any Day Now

STUDIO: Music Box | DIRECTOR: Travis Fine | CAST: Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt, Isaac Leyva, Frances Fisher, Gregg Henry, Chris Mulkey
BLU-RAY & DVD RELEASE DATE: 4/23/2013 | PRICE: DVD $24.95, Blu-ray $29.95
BONUSES: featurettes, Isaac Leyva’s Audition, more
SPECS: R | 97 min. | Drama | 2.39:1 widescreen | Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 | English subtitles

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie  | Audio  | Video  | Overall

 

Los Angeles, 1979: Any Day Now opens with a lip-synching drag queen (Alan Cumming, Burlesque) meets a closeted lawyer (Garret Dillahunt, Looper). One blow-job and one self-dramatizing tantrum later, the two move in together and then try to adopt a boy with Down Syndrome who’s been abandoned by his junkie-prostitute mother.

Garret Dillahunt (l.) and Alan Cumming struggle to keep their unconventional family together in Any Day Now.

In an animation studio somewhere, Seth McFarlane is readying his parody…

Inspired by a true story, Any Day Now is certainly well-intentioned. But as it lurches from one emotionally high-pitched scene to another, it often seems to be merely straining for significance. It also has the feel of an award-baiting vehicle for its star. Fortunately, that star is the formidably talented Scotsman Cumming. He camps, he emotes, he quips and he sings.

Garret Dillahunt is fine as the repressed lawyer and excellent support comes from Alan Rachins (Showgirls), Frances Fisher (The Lincoln Lawyer), Chris Mulkey (Bad Actress) and a still-looking-great Gregg Henry (Rich Man Poor Man Book II). Most gratifyingly, Isaac Leyva is not a “cute” Down Syndrome child. His appearance may be off-putting at first, but it forces us to confront his humanity and the film is the better for it.

Any Day Now offers fine performances and a timely subject. If only didn’t seem to be trying so hard.

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