''Petunia'' is a 2012

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

film. It was co-written and directed by

Ash Christian Ash Christian (born January 16, 1985, in Paris, Texas – d. August 14, 2020 in Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) was an American actor and film director and producer. He was the founder of Cranium Entertainment. He wrote, directed and pro ...

Thora Birch Thora Birch (born March 11, 1982) is an American actress and producer. She made her feature film debut in 1988 with a starring role in ''Purple People Eater'', for which she received a Young Artist Award for "Best Young Actress Under Nine Years ...

, who stars in the film, and her father Jack Birch, are credited as producers.Freedman, Hadley. January 23, 2014
Thora Birch Interview
''The Guardian''. Accessed January 27, 2014.

Plot

The film relates simultaneously the lives and romantic/sexual relationships of the Petunias: the parents, Felicia and Percy, and their three sons, Michael, Adrian and Charlie. The film also features the wife of Michael, Vivian, and her cousin George.

Cast

* Tobias Segal as Charlie Petunia *

as Vivian Petunia *

Christine Lahti Christine Ann Lahti (born April 4, 1950) is an American actress and filmmaker. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1984 film '' Swing Shift''. Her other film roles include '' ...And Justice for All'' (19 ...

as Felicia Petunia *

Brittany Snow Brittany Anne Snow (born March 9, 1986) is an American actress. She rose to prominence after appearing in the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light'' (1998–2001), for which she won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress and was nominated for two ...

as Robin McDougal *

Michael Urie Michael Lorenzo Urie (born August 8, 1980) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Marc St. James on the ABC dramedy television series ''Ugly Betty''. He can be heard as Bobby Kerns in ''As the Curtain Rises'', an original podca ...

as George McDougal *

David Rasche David Rasche ( ; born August 7, 1944) is an American theater, film and television actor who is best known for his portrayal of the title character in the 1980s satirical police sitcom ''Sledge Hammer!'' Since then he has often played characters ...

as Percy Petunia *

Eddie Kaye Thomas Eddie Kaye Thomas (born October 31, 1980) is an American actor who rose to prominence as Paul Finch in the ''American Pie'' film series. His other notable appearances include Andy Rosenberg in the ''Harold & Kumar'' series, Jeff Woodcock in ...

as Michael Petunia * Jimmy Heck as Adrian Petunia *Branca Ferrazo as Natassia *

Shad Gaspard Shad Javier Gaspard (January 13, 1981 – May 17, 2020) was an American professional wrestler and actor. He was best known for his time with WWE, where he performed under his real name, or mononymously as Shad. Gaspard signed with World Wrestli ...

as XL

Reception

Due to its very limited release, the film has been reviewed by few outlets. Reception for the film has generally been mixed. Frank Scheck from ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' weighs, in a lukewarm review, a "wildly inconsistent" plot against "some marvelous moments and a terrific ensemble".Scheck, Frank. June 27, 2013
Petunia Review
''The Hollywood Reporter''. Accessed January 27, 2014. Dennis Harvey in ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' compares the film to director

Todd Solondz Todd Solondz (; born October 15, 1959) is an American filmmaker and playwright known for his style of dark, socially conscious satire. Solondz's work has received critical acclaim for its commentary on the "dark underbelly of middle class America ...

's works, judging ''Petunia'' to have "a bit less bile (and punch)".Harvey, Dennis. June 27, 2013
Petunia Review
''Variety''. Accessed January 27, 2014.

References

External links

* 2012 films 2012 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films Films set in New York (state) 2010s English-language films 2010s American films {{2010s-comedy-drama-film-stub