Welcome to the Neighborhood

Running time: 89 mins

Games are for children; relationships, for adults-not that you could tell from the participants in Welcome to the Neighborhood, a cast of LA dwellers who are brought together by their misguided definitions of love, trust, happiness, and faith. Four quirky tales are skillfully intertwined as examples of what being a couple is all about, including dealing with the houseguest from hell, some self-absorbed sexual politics, a slight lack of communication, and finding out that your trivial secret may uncover someone else's more personal indiscretion. Throw in a little canine homicide to boot, and youÕve got one wild ride. The writing and directing team of Kurt Inderbitzin and Gay Walch shift gears at perfect speed and keep the dramatic tensions on track without giving into that one sappy, grand moment that too easily connects the dots. Their wicked sense of dark humor, along with seamless acting by a phenomenal cast, drives home the thought that it's best to be very selective in whom you let into your life without forgetting that doing the right thing is sometimes what's best for you. - John Ignowski