Fay Grim

Grade: B+

In the mid-1990s Lili Taylor had a legitimate claim to the title of "America's Greatest It Girl," but I think Parker Posey edged her out with her madcap, wise ass performances in classic indies like Party Girl, The Daytrippers and The House of Yes. Apart from a great part in Rebecca Miller's Personal Velocity and her hilarious antics in Christopher Guest's ensemble comedies, she's recently been relegated to thankless supporting roles in crappy movies (Superman Returns, anyone?).

So even though Fay Grim - Hal Hartley's sequel to his 1997 film Henry Fool - is no masterpiece, it's a treat to see Parker back in a leading role that gives her room to do her trademark pratfalls and wisecracks, with moments of high drama that prove that she can hold her own as a dramatic actor.

The espionage plot is convoluted and, at times, difficult to follow. At the outset Fay worries that her 14-year-old son will turn out like his slob father Henry Fool, who disappeared years ago under mysterious circumstances. Two Feds (one played by Jeff Goldblum) show up and drop that bomb that Henry used to be a spy, and Fay agrees to acquire some of his top secret documents in Paris on the condition that her poet/convict brother Simon be released from prison.

The first hour buzzes along at a steady and entertaining clip, but there are some really sluggish sequences in the final stretch.

In a strange marketing move that mirrors the release of Steven Soderbergh's Bubble last year, Magnolia Pictures released Fay Grim in a limited number of theaters on May 18, and proceeded to release it on DVD five days later. By all means support this low-budget feature at the theater if you have some extra cash, but, truth be told, I doubt it loses much in translation to the TV screen.