Something Out Loud: Review of LaGravenese's 'Living Out Loud'

Richard LaGravenese attempted to make his directorial debut by making a mark in the feel-good, dramatic comedy world with his 1998 production Living Out Loud.  Although stacked with the Hollywood hitters Holly Hunt, Danny DeVito and Queen Latifah, LaGravenese failed to stack his film with character development, relatable plots, and a strong overall theme in general. Who would ever expect that this concoction would turn out a much more lack luster and confusing film than the promise of a feel-good rom-com usually delivers on?

The film starts off equip with all the tools of building a relationship with the audience. An Upper East Side woman Judith (Holly Hunt) is recently divorced of a cheating ex and finds herself riddled with the guilt of powerlessness she has to fix the world of all its problems. Struggling to find a solution to her own overwhelming loneliness she acquires a soulful best friend Liz (Queen Latifah) and back up plan man Pat (Danny DeVito) who help her realize the possibilities she has to relieve the powerlessness over herself. Judith grows to understand her own capabilities, to get over her ex and get on with herself.  However this is, regrettably, an extreme oversimplification of the muddied plot that drives this film.

After Judith encounters a mysterious rendezvous in a closet with a nameless romantic, the reoccurring theme of social responsibility is suddenly dropped, never making a return appearance. Is this meant to speak on the selfish ways in which when we finally have something to distract our hearts with we no longer carry the tendency to care about those outside of ourselves? The soulful best friend finds herself in relationships with gay men.  Maybe a statement made on the impossibility for even the most stable and self-aware of us all to find true happiness in love? Finally there’s the co-dependent back up guy, who Judith perpetually uses as someone to turn to when feeling down. After standing resiliently by her side in support, Pat is eventually turned down when Liz, thanks to his help, feels ready enough to be on her own. Lucky for him he ends up finding a new object of affection to smother in love by the resolution of the film.  Maybe telling us we are shit out of luck unless we are willing to completely base ourselves around others, never giving up no matter the amount of times rejected? Perhaps a dramatic-comedy based around DeVito’s character would make a better film in this genre.

I can excuse the random 90’s quasi-lesbian themed dance sequence mid movie, or the loose end string or two in this film, if it delivered on its main point. And this is why Living Out Loud and LaGravenese lost me … why did he make this movie and what is his trying to prove through it? I appreciate his attempts of revamping the new-divorce-trying-to–find-beauty-in–life-again story with more intricate plots, however, they all seem to simmer down to cheap thickeners that evaporate in minutes. After so many questions, and not nearly as many answers Living Out Loud would be my pick for feel-confused movie of 1998.