Published: January 26, 2008

Ira & Abby DVD Review

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By Prairie Miller

Ira (Chris Messina) is a nerdy, deeply neurotic NYC grad student majoring in psychology, which apparently doesn't help him in the least in the real world. Ira's girlfriend Lea (Maddie Corman)isn't too keen on him either, keeping him in reserve as the designated 'backup man.' And his upscale analyst parents (Judith Light and Robert Klein) have their own set of dysfunctional issues.

Motivated on one particular dreary day to turn his life around, Ira heads over to the local gym to sign up for body improvement. There he encounters likely the strangest female in the world, Abby (Wesfeldt), the gym sales rep who also happens to be a woman who can't keep her secret desires and fantasies a secret for more than a minute. So in a matter of about fifteen minutes, she's asked Ira to have sex with her and get married. And our lonely and miserably depressed protagonist apparently just can't say no.

There are followup infatuations, affairs, breakups, and marriages and divorces galore, all nicely steeped in endless rounds of kindly shrink advice all around town in Ira & Abby. And at the center of this whirlwind mayhem of goofy antics, is the nutty and disarming Abby, woefully addicted to a uncontrollable burst of affection for all strangers who pass her way.

Ira & Abby is teeming with comical surprises, and sly imagination and wit at every turn. The ending falls a little flat but is forgiven, only because what proceeded it is nearly too formidable to match.

Magnolia Home Entertainment
Rated R
3 1/2 stars

DVD Features: Audio Commentary: Jennifer Westfeldt, Actor/Executive Producer/Writer, and Llana Levine, Actor/Executive Producer; Gag Reel; Outtakes.