Chosen Family

Writer and director: Heather Graham

From the beginning, there is a glossy, unrealistic tone to Chosen Family, written, directed and starring Heather Graham. Perhaps in an effort to attract a wide audience Graham emphasises the lush scenic beauty of the Rhode Island setting with frequent overhead tracking shots. In an effort to give the viewers what they want Graham poses in a bikini and John Brotherton emerges from the sea in the manner of Daniel Craig. More significantly, although a yoga teacher on a (presumably) modest income the central character can afford a posh house in a desirable waterside location.

The birth family of Ann (Heather Graham) imposes unreasonable demands upon her to the extent she finds it hard to ever put her own feelings first. Her obsessively religious father Alfred (Michael Gross) demands she marry a virgin from his church. Mother Dorothy (Julie Halston) is convinced, despite evidence to the contrary, she can sing and pesters Ann to help kick-start her career. Self-destructive younger sister Clio (Julia Stiles) is in and out of drug rehabilitation and carries a festering grudge against Ann dating back to childhood.

Ann’s supportive friends worry about her inability to form a relationship and set her up with Steve (John Brotherton). Although they make a good couple, Steve shares Ann’s inability to say ‘no’ in his case to his spoilt daughter Lilly (Ella Grace Helton) who refuses to share her father’s attention and sets about sabotaging the relationship.

There is a soft centre to the heart of Chosen Family. Although some of the jokes are nicely abrasive – a foul-mouthed lout turns out to be Clio’s sobriety sponsor- in the main the punchlines are obvious. When Ann, in an effort to make a promotional online video for her yoga class, slips into confessional meltdown about her awful family, you just know it will result in an increase in custom from people who relate to her anxieties and vulnerability. Obviously, Ann’s declaration that she and Steve will avoid sex is followed by a scene of them going at it like bunnies.

Director Graham handles well the scenes between Ann and her friends. There is an easy camaraderie close to improvisation as they chat and banter between themselves. However, some deliberately awkward scenes work less well and are a bit creepy. Lilly’s emotional manipulation results in Ann sleeping alone in the child’s bed and inadvertently allowing Steve to read her a bedtime story. Ann and Lilly engage in a dance-off competition with the latter copying the former’s increasingly sexy moves, Steve looks very uncomfortable and he is not the only one.

The theme of the movie necessitates a comparison between Ann’s toxic birth family and her supportive social family. However, the relatively brief running time of the film does not allow realistic development of the large cast of characters. Although Julia Stiles walks the fine line between sulky entitlement and genuine psychological damage, Ann’s parents are strident caricatures and feel out of place in what is intended as a gentle comedy/drama rather than a high-pitched melodrama.

Like its central character, Chosen Family tries to please too many people resulting in a scattershot movie that does not always hit the target. Whilst over-ambitious Heather Graham shows talent as writer/ director making a second feature from her an intriguing idea.

ChosenFamily will be available on Digital Download from 21st April.