MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Whole Truth’: A Wry Look at Romance

“The Whole Truth” (at the Sunset 5, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. throughout November) is a wry low-low-budget look at the vicissitudes of contemporary romance that boasts of some deft dialogue and characterizations and is bolstered by winning performances from Dyan Kane and Dan Cohen; Cohen also wrote and co-directed the film with Jonathan Smythe. It has been made with resourcefulness and care--and even gets away with having Lancaster, Pa., stand in for Philadelphia. It’s slight and certainly not without flaws, but its stars have promise as actors and Cohen does as a writer as well.

It opens in a courtroom in which Kane, a hard-working architect, has brought a harassment suit against Cohen, the proprietor of a magic shop and a once-a-week stand-up comic. They are attractive people somewhere in their 30s, and the film first presents Cohen’s view of their meeting--through a dating service--and romance, and then Kane’s version, which differs sharply. Thereafter, the two points of view are intercut as the plot progresses to a credible finish. There’s a sense of fair play here in that we’re left to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between the two people’s stories.

“The Whole Truth” is at its best when Kane and Cohen, poised actors both, are on screen together, for they spark each other regardless of whether the moment is tender or stormy. When they’re on screen with someone other than each other, the film’s lack of rhythm becomes more evident; the acting and writing are stronger than the direction. Kane’s architect is a chic, focused careerist, not easily pleased, while Cohen’s would-be comic is less mature, more playful and able at times to disarm Kane more than she is willing to admit.

“The Whole Truth” (Times-rated Mature for adult themes, mild language) may be minor, but in its modest way, is honest and real.

‘The Whole Truth’

Dyan Kane: Vanessa Dan Cohen: Dan Jim Willig: Judge Paul Kahane: Paul Pat Lemay: Olivia

A Cinevista release of a Fast Films production. Producer Richard Bree. Executive producer/writer Dan Cohen. Cinematographer Dennis Michaels. Editor Rick Derby. Music Bill Grabowski. Art director Christine Itle. 1 hour, 25 minutes.

Times-rated Mature (adult themes, mild language).