Playing like a low-budget version of Knocked Up, Barry Munday offers more realism when it comes to an unexpected pregnancy, albeit with less entertainment value. Watchmen’s Patrick Wilson plays the title character as a wannabe ladies man whose swinger lifestyle takes a decidedly domestic turn after he hooks up with Ginger (the wonderfully acerbic Judy Greer).
The script, based on Frank Turner Hollon novel Life is a Strange Place, takes a few missteps, but avoids easy cliché in favour of honest character moments. The supporting cast has some surprises, including Malcolm McDowell, Cybil Shepherd and Chloe Sevigny, but it’s Wilson’s work that makes or breaks this film. He turns a one-note stereotype into a legitimately engaging character with a heartfelt dramatic arc. In truth, his performance is so good that the rest of the film pales in comparison — but that’s exactly what makes Barry Munday worth seeing.
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