Kabluey (Dir: Scott Pendergast)

Nearly drowning in indie quirk, Kabluey manages to pull its head above water for a touching conclusion. This film takes place in indie land where nearly everyone and everything is quirky. The cars are quirky, the grocery store is quirky, and the clerks are all quirky. Northern Exposure and Wes Anderson succeed in their quirkified excesses by also creating characters that are deeply flawed and very human. When Kabluey strips away the quirks, humans emerge and the story moves the viewer.

The story opens with Leslie (Lisa Kudrow) hiding in the closet from her two menacing children and speaking with her mother-in-law about how overwhelming her life has become since her husband left for Iraq. Enter lovable loser and brother-in-law Salman. He shows up in part to help out around the house and in part because he has nowhere else to go. In order to help with bills Salman takes the job of a giant blue company mascot. The mascot suit proves a fantastic comic device and makes for excellent visuals and funny physical gags.

As Salman settles in to his new life, he discovers myriad problems. Lisa's life is out of control and the internet start-up for which he is working is on the brink of collapse. Though he has always been a doormat and failure, Salman finds himself in a situation that demands he act. The suit, Salman discovers, evokes very strong reactions in others and he must decide how to use this new power. Can he finally take control of his life and become an actor not merely the acted upon?

As mentioned, in the film's final moments, the movie strips away the quirkiness and closes well. The final scenes feature people merely talking to one another, finally confronting the mess they have made of their lives and trying to face the future. Kabluey is hit and miss, but it achieves a special grace in its closing.