From Friday Night Lights To Lighting Up

Are there any movies these days that don't involve a major character buying or selling weed? I guess now that it's legal for medicinal purposes in California, marijuana is the only thing on the brains of Hollywood screenwriters. That's the only explanation I can come up with for Shrink, yet another movie about a person deals with whatever ails them by toking up.

Kevin Spacey, Robin Williams and Saffron Burrows have already been announced as part of the cast of the indie comedy, and now The Hollywood Reporter says Friday Night Lights actor Jesse Plemons is coming on board to play-- you guessed it-- a pot dealer. Spacey stars in the movie as a psychiatrist to the Hollywood stars who copes with a personal tragedy by smoking pot. The coping mechanism apparently isn't very effective, as he finds himself unable to help his patients, who include a washed-up actress and an obsessive-compulsive agent.

When reviewing Finding Amanda last week, I complained about self-absorbed Hollywood movies that leave nothing for Hollywood outsiders to appreciate. Shrink seems like it could be one of those movies, despite the appealing and talented cast. Those of us who don't live in Hollywood may have seen enough jabs at Hollywood types thanks to Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage. Hopefully Plemons can use all that Texan experience he's gotten working on Friday Night Lights to make Shrink interesting for the rest of us.

Katey Rich

Staff Writer at CinemaBlend