“Keep warm.”

The Scoop: 2000 PG-13, directed by Harry Sinclair and starring Danielle Cormack and Karl Urban

Tagline: A man, a woman, and 117 cows.

Summary Capsule: Once upon a time, there was a boy and girl and 117 cows. They lived in a land that looked a lot like New Zealand, but was filled with the fantastical as a part of everyday life. And they were all very happy, the boy, the girl, and the cows. That is until the girl did a very, very stupid thing…

Eunice’s rating: Man, I’m really craving milk.

Eunice’s review: Sometimes I go on a tear, and check out an actor or actress’ movie back list. The results are usually a mixed bag, like with Alan Rickman I found Truly, Madly, Deeply (which was very good!), but I also found Close My Eyes (MIND BLEACH!).

After the Lord of the Rings movies Karl Urban was the subject of one such episode. At the time, as far as stateside is concerned, pretty much the only thing you would be able to easily find Mr. Urban in was TV’s Hercules the Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. The Price of Milk was not available to rent. Anywhere. If I wanted to see it I would have to blind buy.

So I did. I’ve never regretted it.

Lucinda and Rob live in their little house, surrounded by and taking care of their 117 cows and their agoraphobic dog Nigel (Yes, the dog has agoraphobia). And they’re happy. Disgustingly, blissfully happy, with childlike innocence on top. One day Rob asks Lucinda to marry him, and of course she says yes.

After talking to her friend, who Lucinda is too good a person to see isn’t that great of a friend, Lucinda is afraid that the relationship may be going stale. Her and Rob have never fought, so she decides that if she makes him angry it’ll spice up the relationship. But Rob is so easy going that she has to do increasingly stupid things to actually make him angry. When she finally succeeds, they have crazy good make up sex.

But what if it wasn’t enough? While Lucinda worries about that, her and Rob’s special quilt (go with me on this) is stolen in the middle of the night. When Lucinda finds out what she has to do to get back the quilt her thinking is thus: I made Rob mad and the result was good. So, if I make Rob REALLY mad, the result will be excellent! But she goes too far.

Price is very much a fairy tale. While the characters live in a modern world close to our own, they aren’t phased by a dog who lives in a box, or the fact that running over someone doesn’t kill them, or seeing someone one second only to have them disappear the next. It also looks like a fairy tale. While I can’t say I understand all the imagery, it’s very pretty and the creative and imaginative scenes do tie in with the story.

Rob and Lucinda go along a journey that’ll lead their relationship through some very rough patches, with them both making bad choices and being tricked. It’s a seemingly simple movie and can be taken that way, but by the end the characters have grown quite a bit from who they are at the beginning. All leading up to the question: Is it ever too far or too late to say you’re sorry in the name of twu wuv?

The Price of Milk: It’s a funny, mostly sweet, whimsical modern fantasy. Curl up on the couch on a rainy day and enjoy while wrapped in your comfiest quilt or blanket. Just be sure to hold onto it tight.

Intermission!

• The quilt credits is one of my favoritest openings ever.
• The whole washing dishes in the outside bathtub scene kinda squicks me.
• Agoraphobic dogs! For the director who doesn’t want to work with animals.
• Danielle Cormack’s eyes walk on the crazy line. If eyes had legs. Or feet.
• This movie is like Thinner. Only with less dead people and more lovin’.
• Never trust the woman the dog hates.

Groovy Quotes

Old woman: Keep warm.

Old woman: Light her pajamas on fire! Make it look like an accident.

Drosophila: He’s not right for you.
Lucinda: Yes he is, he’s so right for me. I love him.

Woman: Do you like it? Your sari? Your sari?
Lucinda: Yeah, I am. I am.

Lucinda: Is that why you’re doing this? Because I ran you over?
Old woman: No, no, no, no. I get run over all the time.

Lucinda: Who are you? Where’s Rob gone?
Rob: What?
Lucinda: You’re not Rob. You see, Rob -Rob -Rob loves me. Who are you?

If you liked this movie, try these:

• Danny Deckchair
• Strictly Ballroom
• Rough Magic