SXSW 2017 Review: INFINITY BABY

By Jan Hamilton

In the not too distant future, a new corporation has developed the ultimate product: a baby that never grows up, and needs only minimal care. For some reason, the corporation pays the parents to take the baby.  In this black and white film, Larry (Kevin Corrigan) and Malcolm (Martin Starr) play a gay couple who work for the baby company, and because of a cancellation, they end up taking in an infant.  Larry just seems to be interested in the money they will receive, but Malcolm seems truly committed to being a parent.  An unforeseen tragedy occurs, but with miraculous results.

In a parallel story, the audience meets Ben (Kieran Culkin) a young man who wants to be in a relationship, and then wants to move on.  He has even hired Hester (Megan Mullally) to pretend to be his disapproving mother.  When he wants to end the relationship, he brings the women to meet her and she gives them reasons why they are not suitable for her son.  One of the girlfriends he brings home (Trieste Kelly Dunn) is so great that Hester refuses to find fault with her, spoiling Ben’s plans.  While this movie is not “laugh out loud” funny, it has a unique plot, with a cast who does a great job.

The Bottom Line: Some good spots in an uneven film, you may find it to your liking.

Director:  Bob Byington

Producer:  Barry Lacina, Christos Konstantakopoulos, Veronica Leon, Rebecca Eskreis,

Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman

Screenwriter: Onur Tukel

Cinematographer: Matthias Grunsky

Editor: Kris Boustedt

Production Designer: Jake Kuykendall

Sound Designer: Adam Cook

Music: Aesop Rock

Principal Cast: Kieran Culkin, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Nick Offerman,

Martin Starr, Kevin Corrigan, Megan Mullally, Noel Wells, Stephen Root

Additional Credits: Costume Design: Olivia Mori, AD: Mitchell Jarrett,

Art Direction:  Fabian Valdez, AC: Ryan Croci, Gaffer: Carmen Hilbert, DIT: Liz Perlman,

Location Manager: Alex Gibson, Asst. Editor: Laura Colwell, Costumer: Camila Otero,

HMU: Mischa Fruge

 

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