The Appointments of Dennis Jennings

I read the synopsis, and still I wasn't prepared for what 'The appointments of Dennis Jennings' entailed. This is impossibly dry, deadpan, offbeat, absurdist humor as only Steven Wright can deliver, and it's a marvel. The oddball musings and concerns of Wright's title character pointedly conflicts with the aggrieved disinterest of therapist Dr. Schooner, portrayed with expectedly exaggerated expression by Rowan Atkinson. Though given less time on screen, Laurie Metcalf handily keeps in step with Wright's characteristic tone.

It's a small tale told here, and ultimately rather dark. But it's quite entertaining, and I think notably outside the bounds of convention when it comes to comedy or storytelling generally. The camerawork and image quality leaves a bit to be desired, but I assume that these can be attributed simply to what director Dean Parisot had to work with for a short film in the late '80s. In any event, a lack of technical refinement doesn't hinder our enjoyment.

For the tone struck throughout, 'The appointments of Dennis Jennings' may not be for all viewers. Still, this is a fun little movie that I'd encourage viewers to seek out if they're looking for something a bit different.