Line #3 Film/Dummy


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dummy_2002_poster.jpg]]
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3	''Dummy'' is 2002 independent comedy-drama written and directed by Greg Pritikin, starring Creator/AdrienBrody, Creator/MillaJovovich, Creator/VeraFarmiga, and Creator/IlleanaDouglas.
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5	The film centers around Steven (Brody), a lovable loser who learns how to express himself and come out of his shell through {{ventriloquism}}. After being fired from his unfulfilling office job, Steven finds himself at the desk of unemployment counselor Lorena (Farmiga). Choosing to pursue his dream of being a professional ventriloquist, Steven hones his skills and tries to work up the nerve to ask out Lorena with the help of his best friend and fellow misfit, Fangora (Jovovich).
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8	!!''Dummy'' provides examples of:
9	* BrickJoke: Steven puts on a CD of John Philip Sousa ("the guy that does all the marches") when [[SoundtrackDissonance alone at home with Lorena]]. After dropping her off and being told by Lorena that she's not ready for a relationship, he comes home with the CD still playing.
10	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Steven's a nice guy but after [[spoiler:disarming Michael, he flat-out sucker-punches him in the face.]]
11	* CantSpitItOut: Steven.
12	* CloudCuckoolander: With the exception of his sister Heidi, Steven's entire family. Fannie can be like this sometimes, too.
13	* DemonicDummy: Averted. The dummy, though a bit creepy at times, never acts of its own accord or shows any hostility (that Steven doesn't project onto it). Played with in one shot near the end, but the dummy was simply being operated by an off-screen character.
14	* EarnYourHappyEnding: In the end, every character has to put up their own fight for things to work out for them. [[spoiler:Steven and Lorena end up together after he saves her and his sister from a prop gun-toting Michael, Fangora and her band finally get a gig and it's implied that she and Michael may even get together. Oh, and the Dummy talks...or not.]]
15	* GunStruggle: [[spoiler:Variation. The gun goes off, but it turns out to be a prop.]]
16	* HollywoodRestrainingOrder
17	* JewishMother: Fern. She overlooks the fact that Michael's so bad Heidi had to get a restraining order against him because he's "a very successful accountant."
18	* MistakenForGay: Lorena, by Fangora.
19	* NiceGuy: Steven, though it works against him at first. Steven is so shy and willing to help others (such as Fangora) at his own expense that he can't find it in him to fight hard enough for Lorena [[spoiler:after she leaves]] or ventriloquism, which is the reason he didn't pursue it at first. It isn't until [[spoiler:Michael confronts him, Lorena and his sister at the wedding that he finally musters the courage to fight for all of them and punches Michael.]]
20	* OhCrap: One of Heidi's clients wants klezmer music played at her wedding. Fangora is so desperate for a gig that she says her band can totally play that. When Heidi says, "Wow, I didn't even know you were Jewish," Fangora gets a look on her face that clearly says she has ''no'' idea what klezmer is or what being Jewish would have to do with it.
21	* SecondLove: Steven is this for Lorena. (Her fiancé died getting hit by a car the night they were to wed.)
22	* SirSwearsALot: Fangora.
23	* StalkingIsLove: Believed by Michael, Heidi's ex-fiancé, who [[spoiler:attempts to propose to Heidi by holding her at gunpoint.]] Heidi [[spoiler:and Lorena]] disagree.
24	* WidowedAtTheWedding: [[spoiler:Lenora and her late fiancé. Also SomeoneToRememberHimBy.]]

Context Film / Dummy