NUMB

Originally published in Verbicide issue #24

Insight Film & Proud Mary Entertainment Productions
93 min., dir. by Harris Goldberg, with Matthew Perry, Kevin Pollak, and Mary Steenburgen

It appears that during his hiatus from motion picture appearances, Matthew Perry has been working on his game. After leaving audiences wondering for four years when their favorite “Friend” would come back to the silver screen, Perry returns with what could be called his most sincere effort to date. Combining both elements of classic Perry comedy with newfound serious drama, the actor takes a break from his work on “Studio 60″ to lead a well-rounded cast in the impressive independent picture, Numb.

Perry stars as Hudson, a goodtime loving bachelor who is the master of selling the screenplays of his writing partner, Tom (Kevin Pollak). One night during a get-together with friends, Hudson overdoes it with some recreational marijuana smoking and completely fries his brain. The experience leaves the man completely out of touch with his own existence, and suffering from a real-life syndrome known as “depersonalization.” Incapable of making a connection with anyone and anything in his life (including himself), Hudson begins his quest to feel something again and cure him of his numbness. His attempted remedies include the advice from several psychiatrists (including a cameo from Mary Steenburgen), and more importantly, a growing relationship with the charismatic Sarah (Lynn Collins).

Although the above storyline could’ve been interpreted as a straight-up awkward comedy, writer/director Harris Goldberg (writer of Deuce Bigelow series, Without a Paddle) decided to delve deeper into Hudson’s tale, resulting in a more critically appreciated work of cinema. The audience finds themselves struggling along with the supporting characters to understand Hudson’s condition. Through intelligent dialogue and creative camera work, Goldberg actually succeeds to some degree in explaining a profoundly complicated mental illness. By seeing the world through Hudson’s eyes, we glimpse at what viewing your own life as a fictional world would really be like and the painful frustration and isolation one would feel.

But the film is not all dramatic struggles with brutally complex ailments. Perry brings the laughs consistently throughout the entire film, from clever one-liners to brilliant subtleties. For example, while sitting in the waiting room to see his therapist, an overly anxious Hudson picks up a nearby pamphlet labeled “Symptoms of ADD,” only to throw it to the side two seconds later.

Numb is not just the “Matthew Perry show,” as both Pollak and Steenburgen get to have some fun. Pollak, who appeared alongside Perry in both “The Whole Nine” and “Ten Yards,” plays a perfect freak-out when he realizes his selling machine partner is falling to pieces. And Steenburgen’s performance, in full effect, suggests we question the sanity of those we seek psychiatric help from.

And not to be outshined by the greater popularity of her co-stars, the lesser known Collins steals every scene she’s in with her realistic portrayal of radiating kindness. Her sweeter than sugar nature mixed with sudden outbursts of cursing could very well be the jumpstart Hudson’s emotions need to get back in working order.

Never pulling a punch when making fun of the world of psychiatry (and its lovely menu of medications,) Numb’s end result is a well-balanced film of all emotions, an ironic result considering it’s a story of a man lacking any feeling at all. Featuring a solid soundtrack consisting mostly The Dandy Warhols and Ivy, Numb is both fun and thought provoking, as you will find yourself debating the issues presented while quoting hilarious lines to your friends. Reminiscent of 2004’s Garden State, Numb may succeed in ways the Zach Braff film did not, for it not only shows us how some people are out of touch, but gives it its best shot to explain why.