Good news for fans of Carol Kane, the daffy comedienne who made unforgettably funny appearances in such '80s classics as The Princess Bride and Scrooged has signed on to star as the hoarder at the center of Diane Crespo's soon-to-shoot dark comedy Clutter. Since A&E's Hoarders debuted in 2009, the compulsion to keep absolutely everything has fascinated American audiences, so it's pretty surprising that it has taken so long for a movie to be made about this absorbing obsession. Of course, the subject matter could easily be made exploitative and mocking. Yet Kane's style of comedy is more known for its silliness than any sort of malice, so it seems unlikely Clutter will be cruel in tone.
Now, much like the plotline of nearly every episode of Hoarders, THRreveals that Clutter centers on Linda (Kane), a mother whose grown children step in to help her clean her home before it's taken away from her. Playing Kane's onscreen offspring in a thrilling casting combination are Joshua Leonard (Humpday), Natasha Lyonne (American Reunion) and Halley Feiffer (Gentleman Broncos).
While Leonard may best known for his nightmare-inducing role in the game-changing horror flick The Blair Witch Project, he's been building a reputation for his subtle yet savvy comedic skills in independent features and premium cable appearances. Before breaking through with American Pie, Lyonne cut her teeth on some edgy indie comedies of her own, including the biting coming-of-age tale Slums of Beverly Hills and the campy and satirical But I'm a Cheerleader. Over the years, she's drawn less attention than her American Pie co-stars, but personally I'm eager to see her snarky sense of humor opposite Kane's doe-eyed silliness.
And lastly, Feiffer who is coming up in the world of comedy with eye-catching roles like that of Ted Danson's estranged daughter on Bored to Death, where she's engaged in a weirdly enviable May-December romance with Sledge Hammer! star David Rasche. Basically, this trio has displayed an effortless talent in projects with an offbeat sense of humor, so they seem a good fit for Crespo's dark comedy.
Of course, it's also enticing that Kane, a consummate character actress, is being offered the rare chance to lead this feature. And just when I wondered if Clutter's cast could be any more appealing, I took note that the brassy and always-hilarious Kathy Najimy who is slated to co-star as Ethel. Though no further details are currently available on her character, the mere possibility that Kane and Najimy sharing screentime is enough to keep me committed to seeking out Clutter.
Clutter is slated to go into production this month in New York, and is currently expected to hit theaters in 2013.
