Petunia feels like watching a family therapy session that turned into a comedy, showing that even when your life is a total wreck, you are probably not the only one struggling to keep it together.
Petunia (2012)
This movie is a perfect example of that quirky New York indie style. It starts off at a wedding where Charlie's brother is literally puking from nerves, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the Petunia family energy. Charlie is trying this whole celibacy thing to regain control of his life, but then he meets George and things get complicated fast.
Michael Urie is really fun to watch as George. He is charming and sweet, but he comes with a massive amount of baggage since he is in an open relationship with a fitness-obsessed girl played by Brittany Snow. The chemistry between the actors is great because it feels genuine and awkward at the same time. You can tell they had a blast filming those scenes where everything just feels a bit "off" but still grounded in reality.
The rest of the family is just as chaotic. Thora Birch plays the cynical, pregnant wife who pretty much hates everything, and she is absolutely hilarious. Then you have Christine Lahti as the psychoanalyst mother who is constantly trying to "fix" her kids while her own marriage is falling apart. The atmosphere is very dry and cynical, but it is not depressing. It is just a story about people who are flawed and a bit lost, trying to figure out how to be happy without making everything even more of a mess.
