Joe's So Mean to Josephine is a solid if uninspired romantic drama that's lifted a notch or so by some outstanding acting. Eric Thal and Sarah Polley star as the doomed couple of the title. Thal's performance is pretty good, and the supporting performances are uneven, but Polley is amazing. Writer/director Peter Wellington's somewhat mundane script sings when she's on the screen. Playing an intelligent, high-strung, and emotionally immature cub reporter, Polley has a perfect ear. She beautifully captures the nervous laughter and hemming and hawing of a young woman unprepared for the trauma of an emotionally abusive relationship. Her effervescence is a nice counterpoint to Thal's sullen passivity. The film is almost too simple in its depiction of the ups and downs of their relationship, and the cutesy title, while it's somewhat misleading, still gives away too much. But for the most part, there's barely a moment onscreen that doesn't feel real in some way. While Wellington certainly deserves a lot of the credit for that, his film owes a tremendous debt to his lead actress.
by Josh Ralske
review
