In this twisted mockumentary, neb-bishy documentarian Andrew Gurland (playing himself) decides to make a film about a loutish doorman from Queens named Adrian (Adrian Martinez) who buys a Burmese bride picked from a catalogue. Soon after Lichi’s (Eugenia Yuan) arrival in America, it becomes clear her role will be more domestic servant than companion. Things heat up after Adrian tries to force Lichi to have her tubes tied, leading to a confrontation with Andrew and the dissolution of the project. Months later, Lichi arrives at his door with a perverted sex tape shot in Adrian’s basement, so a guilt-ridden Andrew takes her in, takes advantage, and a bizarre love triangle is born.
“Mail Order Wife” is an ambitious, but disconnected endeavor. The funny scenes (and there are several) are broken up by either colorless or downright morbid episodes that feel awkward and/or uncomfortable in what should have been a straight comedy. Gurland and co-writer-director Huck Botko scored this deal largely on the strength of a couple of Sundance-endorsed documentaries, which might explain why they come up short in attempting to skewer the form: They respect it too much to give it the Chris Guest treatment. The cast is a mixed bag, too. Although Martinez nails Adrian as a pitiable, creepy, post-modern Ralph Cramden, Yuan and Gurland are grating and in need of more acting lessons. (Rated R for language and some disturbing sexual material. Running time: 91 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 11, 2005. Read the original PDF.