Movie Review: The Rage of Placid Lake

Release Date: August 23, 2003

Genre: Comedy

Director: Tony McNamara

Australian actor with a lisp, Ben Lee plays character Placid Lake, where this movie unfortunately isn't a dark, slasher film staged in shady upstate New York. Also, Oliver Platt isn't featured in this movie as a crazed, lake monster enthusiast. Instead this is a slice of life, about a gawky, awkward high school graduate that is best (platonic) friends with a creepily hot scientific genius and avid crayon eater, Gemma. (Played by Rose Byrne, with a cameo of her petite, bra covered chest.) Raised by the most new-age infused hippie parents you could imagine, Placid finds that his personality and sense of fearlessness in life causes him more grief than good. After a life-changing experience, Placid vows that he will become normal and live a normal, drone-like life, much to his parents dismay, in insurance sales.

As a side note, his mother is played by Miranda Richardson, the alcoholic comatose mother from my previous review on "Falling Angels." I would be really interested in her playing a serious role. She's got "screwed-up" down pat.