Instant Watching: Humble Pie

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 at 9:01 am by Christie Dean

Instant Watching: Humble Pie 2011-05-18T09:01:03-06:00 Christie Dean

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In her weekly column, Instant Watching, Christie Dean talks about recently produced obscure and independent films that are made available through Netflix’s Instant Watch feature.

You know how some movies stick with you days after watching them? Maybe a story resonates with you, maybe you just completely understand the main character and their issues, or maybe some of the scenes affect you emotionally. After I finished watching Humble Pie over the weekend I wanted to grab a glass of water, sit back down on my couch, and watch the movie again. I was so drawn to the main character, Tracy, and his story that I found myself wanting to be his friend, or at least engage in a friendly chat with him while he scanned my groceries at the check-out register.

Tracy Orbison, played by Hubbel Palmer (who also wrote the film), is an ordinary guy who has been employed at the same grocery store for eleven years, and he has tried to obtain his driver’s license so many times that he knows the test administrator on a first-name basis. Overweight, he eats out of stress and sadness and endures constant verbal jabs by his self-pitying mother. After being captivated by an actor’s (played by William Baldwin) performance in a local theater production, Tracy signs up for acting classes believing that this is what he was meant for–that acting would help transform him from a nobody to a somebody. In addition, he befriends a new teenage grocery store employee named Kendis (Vincent Caso) and decides to act as a mentor to Kendis and his rough, trouble-making friends. Tracy’s journey to become someone extraordinary begins with promising opportunities, but his sense of achievement and acceptance are dashed by the people he cares most deeply about. Tracy soon sees, though circumstances may be tough, the evidence of positive change happening in and around him through “glimpses of hope”, whether it’s a hug from a loved one or the words in a goofy inspirational poster.

The writing in Humble Pie is sensitive to the sadness and insecurities that burden its characters, but certainly does not sacrifice humor in the process. A lot of the scenes and character quirks are downright hilarious. William Baldwin’s character Truman Hope, a confident performer proud of his three-episode guest appearance on the TV show JAG and Tracy’s acting teacher, treats most if not all of his conversations as dialogue written in a play and exaggerates the mood to get an emotional response out of the listener. Kathleen Quinlan (Marilyn Lovell in Apollo 13) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe in 24) play Tracy’s religious mother and stuffed-animal collecting sister, respectively, and form the family structure that helps to explain Tracy’s search for meaning and approval in his life. Hubbel Palmer reminds me of John Candy, and I hope to see more of his acting through my Netflix Instant Watch adventure, if not when he has his big break.

Asides

humble pie

instant watching

Previous Post

May 18, 2011

Are You Ready For This Saturday's Rapture?

Next Post

May 19, 2011 ...by the Bell, Chapter 7: The Good News is Better Than That

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz