many film attempt the ambitious . few succeed . this film be one of them . though bill a a black comedy and that term seem too limit to express the true nature of the story behind max and grace . multi hyphenate michael parness have manage to weave element of absurd comedy with incredibly real human emotion . quite a remarkable feat and to be certain . while the comedic aspect be certainly present and the heart of the film lie in it lead represent david krumholtz and natasha lyonne . the delicate balance of the film really crazy versus real love fall to them and they achieve it and carry it through from the opening scene to the heart wrench climax and on to the heartwarming end . david krumholtz and in the titular lead role and a narrator and anchor the picture and do an exceptional job . we see the world through max eye and krumholtz imbues them with a sort of wonder and hopefulness that one would not expect to be believable come from a character who have previously attempt suicide . there should be no doubt from this point on that he have truly achieve leading man status and well deserve after more than a decade of memorable support role . natasha lyonne might be something of a revelation for anyone who have see her only in less challenging role . the role of grace be expansive in scope and require her to show both great rage and great tenderness sometimes within second of each other . she manage to convince u of grace deep seat desperation that lie just beneath her alternate torpor and mania . this be not a laugh a minute type of comedy so do not see the film expect strictly humor from start to finish . think more dramedy than comedy . there be some very dark moment and a one would expect give the subject matter of suicidal individual and and some oddly real moment deliver most notably by emma adele galvin a max sister and si . the most humorous scene be those populate by the myriad of name actor in support role . while lorraine bracco and david paymer lend the most surreal aspect with their scene the other support character who populate the institution where max and grace meet be the real treat . guillermo diaz be a wanton scene stealer a the delightfully frenetic oddball and hector . ralf moeller and a bruno and act a his straight man but have his own charm and appeal . rosanna arquette fully inhabit the role of vera with the crass vitriol of an embittered truck stop waitress . even her hardhearted character melt eventually and a do everyone who be touch by max literally undying love for grace . can love conquer all might be the question behind the film and even though the realist within say no and movie be about an escape from reality and even if only for a few brief hour . i recommend see this film a an antidote to not just reality but to the cynicism that say that a love story like this never happen . spend a few hour immerse in a world where it can and do work wonder on the psyche . ( seattle international film festival june 2005 ) .