MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Grief’ an Endearing Mix of Humor, Poignancy

“Grief” may be an unlikely title for a comedy, but a large part of its appeal is in its willingness to take its people seriously amid much laughter. In a nifty feature debut, writer-director Richard Glatzer makes hilarious use of his experiences as producer of “Divorce Court” as he takes us into the crazed world of the writers for a lurid daytime courtroom TV show. The staff runs the gamut of sexual orientation from gay to straight, from an individual uncertain about his orientation to another of indeterminate gender.

Glatzer picks a particularly tumultuous week in the production office of “The Love Judge,” headquartered in Hollywood’s Art Deco Montecito. Central among six key characters is Craig Chester’s Mark, a pleasant, preppie-looking story editor considered to be among the most gifted of the series’ writers and one of the operation’s more mature presences. However, he’s facing the first anniversary of the death of his lover from AIDS. Meanwhile, Jo (Jackie Beat), the show’s producer, announces she’s leaving to get married. This doesn’t mean she still isn’t thrown into a tizzy every time she discovers evidence that her office’s couch has been used for some off-duty lovemaking.

Other key figures are Jo’s man-crazy assistant Leslie (Illeana Douglas), who’s eager to break into writing; Bill (Alexis Arquette), who’s just broken up with his girlfriend; the muscular Jeremy (Carlton Wilborn), as wise as he is sexy, and the ambitious Paula (Lucy Gutteridge).

Drawing upon his personal as well as professional experiences--like Mark, he has also lost a lover--the insightful Glatzer is a filmmaker of humor and compassion. He also brings a sure sense of structure and makes the most of an opportunity to display a gift for sharp, witty dialogue. “Grief” takes place virtually entirely within “The Love Judge” offices, yet it is always cinematic, never stagy.

Whenever “Grief” threatens to get too emotional, Glatzer deftly cuts to glimpses of outrageous “Love Judge” episodes, which feature cameos by Mickey Cottrell (as the judge), Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel and performance artists Johanna Went and John Fleck. The stories the writers concoct border on the delirious as do their inevitable mutations--Jeremy has come up with a story idea about a leper only to find him turned into a diabetic amputee.

The hefty Beat, most appropriately described as a male actress, to borrow Charles Pierce’s self-description, shines under Glatzer’s direction, as does everyone. Douglas is especially sparkling as the vibrant, self-deprecating Leslie, and Chester, who made his film debut as Nathan Leopold in “Swoon,” once again conveys exceptional intelligence and perception. Made on a low-low budget, “Grief” has been resourcefully designed (by Don Diers) and photographed (David Dechant). “The Love Judge” may be laughably outlandish, but the people of “Grief” prove to be real and endearing.

* MPAA rating: Unrated. Times guidelines: It includes much coarse language, adult humor and discussion about sexual themes.

‘Grief’

Craig Chester: Mark

Jackie Beat: Jo

Illeana Douglas: Leslie

Alexis Arquette: Bill

Carlton Wilborn: Jeremy

Lucy Gutteridge: Paula

A Strand Releasing presentation. Writer-director Richard Glatzer. Producers Ruth Charny, Yoram Mandel. Executive producer Marcus Hu. Cinematographer David Dechant. Editors Robin Katz, William W. Williams. Costumes Laser N. Rosenberg. Music Tom Judson. Production designer Don Diers. Set decorator David Carpender. Running time: 1 hour, 27 minutes.

* Exclusively at the Sunset 5, Sunset and Crescent Heights. (310) 848-3500.