Gray Matters (2006)

8% of critics liked it
(65 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(10,046 ratings)

"Sibling rivalry" takes on a whole new meaning in this offbeat comedy from first-time writer and director Sue Kramer. Sam (Tom Cavanagh) and his sister, Gray (Heather Graham), are siblings who share a passionate interest in the music and styles of the 1940s, especially movie musicals of the era, and… More "Sibling rivalry" takes on a whole new meaning in this offbeat comedy from first-time writer and director Sue Kramer. Sam (Tom Cavanagh) and his sister, Gray (Heather Graham), are siblings who share a passionate interest in the music and styles of the 1940s, especially movie musicals of the era, and they've earned a powerful reputation on the ballroom-dancing circuit as gifted hoofers with both talent and flair. Sam and Gray cross paths with Charlie (Bridget Moynahan), an attractive woman who shares their enthusiasm for old movies and retro styles, and is a fine dancer to boot. To the surprise of no one, Sam falls head over heels for Charlie, but so does Gray, which comes as a shock to nearly everyone, including Gray, who has never betrayed an attraction to women before. Charlie, however, naïvely fails to acknowledge the depth of Gray's feelings for her as a romantic triangle forms between Charlie and the siblings. Gray Matters also features supporting performances from Sissy Spacek as an analyst, Molly Shannon as one of Gray's co-workers, and Alan Cumming as a taxi driver. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Sue Kramer
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 23, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jun 19, 2007
Studio: Freestyle Releasing/Yari Film Group

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Graham carries this for a while, but Kramer spends entirely too much time weakly satirizing Graham's job at an advertising agency, where Molly Shannon's a kvetching coworker.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
In its genre writer-director Sue Kramer's film sets a new record for bright shining peepers and dimply smirks. It's enough to kill Buster Keaton's entire family.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
There is, one has to assume, a pretty good old-fashioned screwball comedy in all this, but director-writer Sue Kramer seems to have grown up watching Rhoda so Graham, usually a capable actress, has not a word of actual dialogue, only gag lines.
Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times
Nearly every scene of this movie rings hollow, mainly because we can never really believe that what we're seeing up on the screen could truly happen.
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
It's so awful that it enters that weird realm in which it becomes actively annoying. The moviegoer sits there, hoping the characters will be tortured and die horrible deaths.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Gray's identity issues -- presumably the movie's main focus -- share time with too many subsidiary scenes that seem (rightly or wrongly) to have been written for as many actor-friends of the filmmakers as possible.
Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
Pretty quickly it disintegrates into a mishmash of character caricatures competing for airtime in which to spit out overly quirky dialogue in predictable set-ups.
Brandon Fibbs, BrandonFibbs.com
While the light and whimsical comic timing of the leads carry the film far, even they cannot blind us to Gray Matters' many shortcomings.
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Forgettable coming-out comedy for older teens.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Feels more like a made-for-DVD than it does an indie film.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...an amiable misfire.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Much too eager to please rather than dealing with the messier issues around sexual identity.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
Despite being bogged down by several distracting, extended dance numbers, this zany farce has just enough momentum and surprises along the way to hold one's interest for the duration. But it'll help immeasurably if you're a devotee of daytime soap operas.
Kam Williams, EURWeb
Despite being bogged down by several distracting, extended dance numbers, this zany farce has just enough momentum and surprises along the way to hold one's interest for the duration. But it'll help immeasurably if you're a devotee of daytime soap operas.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Gray's matters are pretty mundane, to tell you the truth
Mark Pfeiffer, Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema
Decked out in its fondness for old Hollywood films and American songbook standards, Gray Matters borrows the wallpaper from a Nancy Meyers movie to decorate its empty room.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
Gray Matters feels dated: Gray's self-identity confusion is less "adorable" than annoying, and both she and Charlie appear exceptionally clueless about what's going on.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Much too eager to please rather than dealing with the messier issues around sexual identity.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
I can't recommend it for gay audiences, the presumed target demographic, because they are likely to find it innocuous at best and downright insulting at worst.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
The writing isn't sharp enough for the film to work as comedy, nor are the characters real enough for the audience to connect emotionally.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

This was just average. The cast is okay. I've seen Heather Graham be more convincing in a movie though. I did like the small appearances from Alan Cumming - he nearly steals the whole movie... not that there is much too steal. It's okay as a weekly rental.
Red L

If you need a bit of lightheartedness, this movie is for you. Gray finds a girl for her brother, and a) falls in love with her herself, and b) figures out she is gay. Not an Oscar-winning drama, but enjoyable. At least they don't treat being gay as being a second class… More
If you need a bit of lightheartedness, this movie is for you. Gray finds a girl for her brother, and a) falls in love with her herself, and b) figures out she is gay. Not an Oscar-winning drama, but enjoyable. At least they don't treat being gay as being a second class citizen.
William G

About as pointless as rom-coms come, regardless of orientation.
Chosen 7

Good romantic comedy, smart writing. Great cast, Heather Graham is hella sexy. Good cinematograohy, there are some great shots of NYC. Overall, very entertaining.
Leo L

A great movie of a young woman finding herself and realizing her choices and accepting it with an open heart. Absolutely loved it
Ina S

A bit bland, a bit uninspired, but also somewhat charming and certainly entertaining. Heather Graham saves the day with her funny, charming and delightful performance. Molly Shannon is pure hilarity.
Janice :

nice movie about coming out because not only does it deal with women being gay (not men for a change lol) but it show a nice view into how confused one can be if they find out they are gay... i thought this was a good and relaxed flick... for a sunday night