Let It Roll

PHOENIX, OREGON (B-minus) - A fine cast and the sheer grit of a writer-director to tell a meaningful story save this middling comic melodrama for sliding into TV Movie of the Week fare. James LeGros sometimes searches for the right key as a mopey bartender and wannabe author of graphic novels who gets roped by a pal into investing a nest egg into renovating a bowling alley and upscale pizza parlor. LeGros has a fine rapport with TV veteran Jesse Borrego as their characters each pursue their dreams, Bobby with his art and writing (and glory days as a bowler) and Carlos, a purist as a cook.

Lisa Edelstein (TV's "House" and "The Kominskey Method") is on hand as a potential love interest for Bobby and the facilitator between the men and a sleazy financier. Diedrich Bader ("Office Space") finds a hook as Bobby and Carlos' former boss at a failing restaurant. And all hail Kevin Corrigan as Al, the rude technician restoring the lanes, pin-setters and ball return.

Journeyman writer-director Gary Lundgren didn't need 106 minutes to tell this story, especially if he wasn't going to develop it any better than acceptable. Some of the timelines and key plot points don't necessarily make sense, and Bobby's fixation with his mom's death and the breakup with an ex have surprisingly little detail or depth. But LeGros is charming, the cast is winning, and there's enough heart and humor to make this all work.

BONUS TRACK
The trailer: