Lovely by Surprise (2007)

67% of users liked it
(136 ratings)

A writer attempting to finish her first novel seeks the wisdom of her mentor and ex-lover in hopes of overcoming a crippling case of writer's block in writer/director Kurt Gunn's enigmatic thriller. Marian (Carrie Preston) is writing an absurdist novel about a par of brothers living in a landlocked… More A writer attempting to finish her first novel seeks the wisdom of her mentor and ex-lover in hopes of overcoming a crippling case of writer's block in writer/director Kurt Gunn's enigmatic thriller. Marian (Carrie Preston) is writing an absurdist novel about a par of brothers living in a landlocked boat when the ideas simply stop coming. Advised that she could overcome her problem by simply killing off the protagonist, Marian discovers that task is easier said than done when the willful character escapes the pages of her book and begins wrecking havoc in her personal life. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Kirt Gunn
Written By: Kirt Gunn
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 14, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jul 7, 2009
Studio: Housegoat Productions

Critic Reviews

Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
One of those wilfully quirky movies that we're not quite sure what to do with, this film actually gets under our skin as it goes along
Mark Pfeiffer, Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema
Lovely by Surprise's aggressive quirkiness is off-putting from the get-go and the biggest barrier to engaging with the film.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The film is bizarre and at times touching, but in the end leaves the viewer perplexed and a little unsatisfied with the stories.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest
Lovely, if odd...with a remarkable performance by Carrie Preston.