The trajectory of a modern relationship is sharply traced in “Flannel Pajamas,” a well-acted story of meeting, marrying and the stuff that comes next. It’s got the tang of reality, but not much tension to keep us dialed into its well-observed central couple.
We join a blind date in midstream, as Manhattanites Stuart (Justin Kirk) and Nicole (Julianne Nicholson) find themselves sparking to each other’s charms. He’s local, Jewish, fast-talking; she’s Montana-bred, Catholic and reflective.
The courtship is fun, but then such things generally are. He seems to wear his heart on his sleeve and is unfailingly generous, impulsively vowing to wipe away Nicole’s $15,000 student loan out of his savings.
He works as a Broadway publicist or marketer of some sort; she has vague ideas about starting her own catering business. Well, they say opposites attract, and these two are attracted to each other (as we can see from the frequent nude scenes). But they still seem kinda opposite.
Things get tougher after marriage: family, career, baby-making decisions. There’s nothing surprising about that, and there’s nothing especially surprising in this movie; its fidelity to raw naturalism provides recognizable detail, but after a while it becomes one true-life thing after another.
The writer-director is Jeff Lipsky, who has spent much of his career as a film executive, especially in the world of independent films. Lipsky apparently based the film on his own marriage, and he’s obviously working through some touchy material here.
The movie is talky, but the dialogue is usually good (although Stuart gets the lion’s share of punchy one-liners). The films of the French master Eric Rohmer – presumably an influence here – are also talky, but Rohmer always has a tightly wound structure for his films, something that propels you from scene to scene.
Lipsky doesn’t have that, although this film is a distinct improvement over his first movie, “Childhood’s End.” What he does have is a pair of actors – and this makes the movie worth sticking with.
Julianne Nicholson (who’s been terrific in indie things such as “Tully” and “Kinsey”) brings a straightforward calm to Nicole, ceding the fireworks to Justin Kirk’s Stuart. He’s a mannered but fascinating performer, best known for the TV show “Jack &Jill” and the movie version of “Angels in America.” He conveys just the right note of self-absorption the role needs, so that you can see why Nicole might just get tired of her true love.
All talk: A relationship movie that goes from meeting to marriage and beyond, with lots of observant dialogue but not much tension. The reason to see it is Julianne Nicholson and Justin Kirk, who do strong work as the leads.
Rating: Not rated; probably R for nudity, language
Now showing: Uptown Theater, Seattle
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