Barry Munday (2010)

When I first heard about Barry Munday, a comedy featuring a man who has lost his testicles, I was not expecting to be too impressed upon viewing. However, what I envisioned to be a complete gross-out comedy turned out to be anything but. Barry Munday turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.

Patrick Wilson (Little Children, Watchmen) stars as the titular character Munday, a wannabe ladies' man. He has some success with women, but only because he tries so often. You swing the bat enough times, you're bound to get on base once in a while.

This eagerness leads to a life-changing event for Munday. He hits on a young lady, who turns out to be a bit too young, and this does not sit too well with her father. Without going into too many details, Munday ends up losing his testicles in the ensuing altercation.

That, however, is not the only life-altering event that occurs in Munday's life. Soon afterward, he is hit with a paternity suit by a woman he doesn't even remember being with. Judy Greer (Arrested Development, Love and Other Drugs) stars as Ginger, the aforementioned mommy-to-be.

Rather than trying to dodge the responsibility, Munday jumps head first into fatherhood. While Ginger and Munday don't have bond at first, they do agree to work together to raise their child. Subsequent family get-togethers and doctor's appointments show that Munday, initially portrayed as a bit of a slimy character, is actually a good guy who made a few bad decisions in the name of lust.

What really makes Barry Munday work is the excellent cast. Patrick Wilson is terrific as Munday, making this character into a likeable individual. Joining Wilson is Chloë Sevigny (American Psycho), Jean Smart (Garden State), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) and Colt 45 pitchman Billy Dee Williams (The Empire Strikes Back). When I saw the cast list, I knew the film would over deliver, and it did.

Strong acting, an engaging storyline and endearing characters that grow as the film moves along make Barry Munday a film that hits all the right notes.

Barry Munday arrived on home video on May 17.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars