Sundance Surprise Terri Opens in Irvine Today


Time trip back to January, when Corona del Mar actor Ben York Jones was blogging for the Weekly from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival (when he wasn't taking bows for the U.S. Dramatic Competition winner he co-wrote with Santa Ana-bred Drake Doremus, Like Crazy).

A film that Jones caught by the festival's halfway point–and went absolutely bonkers over–was Azazel Jacobs's little indie comedy Terri, which opens today at Edwards University in Irvine.
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Here was Ben's recap:

It was absolutely my favorite U.S. Dramatic Comp film of those I saw.
It's subtle, it's funny, it's off-beat while remaining uncontrived, and
it showcases completely unaffected and thought-provoking performances by
the four primary characters (including
John C. Reilly as an
unorthodox high-school vice principal). The film plays unconventionally,
more like a novel might read (it was written by a novelist/first-time
screenwriter). The real winner here is director Azazel. Potentially
mistaken for a member of the Mars Volta or the Strokes, the AFI grad is
amazingly talented and humble to boot. . . . The humor. His
sensibilities. The balanced nuances.
Terri is great. I hope I can work with Aza some day.



By the way, it was a pretty solid Sundance for Reilly, who also had a hilarious supporting role in Miguel Arteta's Cedar Rapids, which starred Hangover II's Ed Helms and moved with light-speed into mainstream theaters shortly after the festival ended. You can now Netflix it.

Terri has Reilly's garrulous but
well-meaning Vice Principal Mr. Fitzgerald reaching out to the titular character, an oversized teen misfit played by newcomer Jacob
Wysocki
. Terri, who has been abandoned by his parents, is cared for by an ailing uncle
played by Helms' castmate from The Office, Creed Bratton.

See if you agree with Jones' praise of Terri at the theater in the Town Center shopping center across from UC Irvine. Showtimes today are 1:10, 4:10, 7:30 and 10:10 p.m.

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