Purple Violets (2007) * * *

 

Directed by:  Edward Burns

Starring:  Selma Blair, Patrick Wilson, Edward Burns, Debra Messing, Dennis Farina, Donal Logue

Purple Violets is the story of two former couples trying to make a go of it again years later.  The first couple is writer Brian Callahan (Wilson) and former writer turned realtor Patti Petalson (groan).  The second is lawyer Michael "Murph" Murphy (Burns) and teacher Kate Scott (Messing).  Brian and Patti broke up following the commercial failure of Patti's first novel.  She is now married to a cheating chef husband named Chazz (Logue) and would like to hook up with Brian again.  Brian's new novel is a departure from his successful detective series and is being met with a lukewarm response by fans and critics.

Murph, a mutual friend of both Brian and Patti, had a less-than-amicable breakup years ago with Kate and she is not receptive to his attempts at reconciliation.  He has quit drinking and womanizing and wants to settle down.  Kate is not an easy target and fears Murph hasn't changed at all.  Brian and Patti are more welcoming to a reunion, even though Patti is married.  Purple Violets mostly involves these four characters navigating these complexities.  I've stated previously Edward Burns reminded me of Woody Allen in his writing and his ability to tackle the lost art of the romantic comedy.  I admired The Brothers McMullen, She's the One, Sidewalks of New York, and now Purple Violets, all of which involve interlocking characters and storylines aimed at these people trying to find love at the right time with the right person.

Burns knows how to move scenes along and his presence as the fast-talking New Yorker is a stabilizing force in his movies.  He speaks plainly and has a natural screen presence.  He wouldn't fly in a British accent like Logue's Chazz and he wouldn't even attempt it.  Wilson, Blair, and Messing are also actors at home in this type of movie.  They're wounded but unbowed in their quest for love.  Let's also not forget the late, great Dennis Farina, whose no-nonsense style cuts through the bs and gives us authenticity in every scene he steals.  He plays Glen Gilmore, the owner of the real estate company Patti works for, and his scene where he dresses down Patti for being rude to a client allows us to see why he was a treasure and why we miss him.