Welcome to the Neighborhood

I had the privilege of viewing "Welcome to the Neighborhood" at the 2003 Texas Film Festival. This is a well-written, witty look at four connected stories, all taking place on the same day in suburbia. The first story involves a man breaking into the home of a husband & wife. The second story is about a man who tests his wife by asking his best friend to make a play for her. The third (and best) story is about a writer who can't finish her first paragraph because of dog constantly barking from the next yard. The fourth story shows us a couple on a first date who get along wonderfully until he learns something about her past. The four stories are brilliantly interwoven and really take their time to let us get to know the characters. In the style of films like "Grand Canyon" & "Magnolia", "Welcome to the Neighborhood" gives us four slices of life and mixes them around just to our liking. -- Reviewed by Scott Gingold -- 2003 --