Sunscreen Film Festival movie review: Charlie Valentine, starring Raymond Barry and Michael Weatherly (with video trailer)

Kevin Hopp — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:46:27 -0400

Charlie Valentine is one of many movies that appeared at the Sunscreen Film Festival this past weekend. The movie is an attempt at really good character drama with mob themes using famous actors. While Valentine doesn’t really hit on either note, it still makes for an interesting enough film.

The film stars Raymond Barry in the titular role of an aging gangster who is continuing his life as a thief. When a job goes bad, he is forced to do something he does all too well: cut and run. But when a similar situation arises after he meets up with his estranged son (NCIS star Michael Weatherly), the idea of cutting and running is a tough one.

The film is an attempt to be quite dramatic, with the character of Charlie Valentine a scoundrel and womanizer who only cares about himself. The problem is the script leaves the great acting high and dry. Barry does a great job as an elderly mobster, but we never see him as anything more than a screw up, which makes his near-legendary status seem unconvincing. When Weatherly’s character finally meets his father after an extended stretch, he is happy to greet his father with open arms — despite being abandoned and his mother dying. However, since Valentine is nothing more of a screw up in the audiences eyes, it just seems forced and silly.

There was plenty of violence and gore which, despite being extremely in your face, was pretty good. There were plenty of dead bodies and blood fountains in Charlie Valentine. Coupled with the naked women seeded throughout the movie, this film feels like they tried extremely hard to earn their R rating.

Charlie Valentine shows that good acting can almost overcome weak writing — almost — and if you like some of the classic mob stories of the ‘70s, then you will find something familiar here. Too bad it's just not as well done. Overall, I thought Valentine was a good addition to the film festival, despite it's flaws.

Sunscreen Film Festival: Daily Loaf, Creative Loafing Tampa

Sunscreen Film Festival movie review: Charlie Valentine, starring Raymond Barry and Michael Weatherly (with video trailer)

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