101 Ways

Color, NR (mature themes, language, sexual situations), 100 min., VHS or DVD $29.95

DVD: no extras

Street: Dec. 24, Prebook: Nov. 15

First Run: Showtime, 2001

Cast: Wendy Hoopes (Private Parts), Glenn Fitzgerald (The Sixth Sense), Jamie Harrold (Hannibal), Gabriel Macht (Behind Enemy Lines)

VANGUARD 800.218.7888

Story Line: Aspiring writer Watson Gowan (Hoopes) flees from bustling city life to a quiet Connecticut suburb, where she hopes to hone her craft. However, with a new Volvo to pay off, Watson finds herself struggling in dead-end jobs to make ends meet and still maintain a social life.

Bottom Line: Here's a real sleeper, a delightful little indie tailor-made for twentysomething renters. It's not terribly sophisticated, but that's deliberate. Moving the personable young protagonist from the city to the 'burbs', instead of the other way around, is an inspired touch. And everyone who has toiled in a succession of time-killing jobs will identify with Watson, who briefly (and hilariously) hires out to practice phone sex after terminating her brief waitressing career. Hoopes is adorable, and up-and-comer Harrold scores decisively as her new best friend. Some of the gags are corny, and director Katz relies too much on the overused gimmick of having her characters address the audience. However, that's all we can find wrong with this genuinely cute, winning comedy. Without marquee value, 101 Ways will need vigorous plugging, but it's worth the effort. --Ed Hulse

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