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Little Pink Houses

Forrest Gump always said that stupid is as stupid does. Actually his momma said it. Regardless, some of "Junebug's" strange folk would respond to that platitude with a resounding "huh?"

"Junebug" is one giant awkward encounter. It's a homecoming, of sorts, with southern gentleman George (Alessandro Nivola) returning from Chicago to his rural North Carolina home. With him is his wife, Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz) , a worldly gallery owner who's just shy of pretentious. The couple is actually heading to North Carolina to scout and court a rather bizarre artist (Frank Hoyt Taylor) , a slightly retarded bigot who paints Civil War scenes where all the soldiers bear his face. And since they would be in the area, George and Madeline decided to stop by the folks.

The couple is married, which is strange, only because George's parents have never met Madeline. It's the type of meeting you just know won't go smoothly. That's because Madeline has lived a globetrotting, exotic life and possesses a captivating charm that can't penetrate Aqua Velva or Pert Plus. She's a well-meaning Bond villain without the doomsday device.

George's family is simple, which is a nicely spun way of saying not too bright. His mom, Peg (Celia Weston) , is caring but rigid and suspicious of strangers. Pop Eugene (Scott Wilson) is resigned to woodworking and listening to everyone else's problems. And redneck brother Johnny (UVa's own dreamy Benjamin McKenzie) , who's moved back in with the 'rents, is filled with resentment and jealousy arising from his brother's success – plus he's about to be a dad.

The real star of "Junebug" is Ashley , played by Amy Adams . You might recognize her from "Drop Dead Gorgeous" or "Catch Me If You Can." Here she plays Johnny's wife. Ashley is kind, curious, optimistic, but probably couldn't beat Sean Connery on SNL's "Celebrity Jeopardy" spoof. Pregnant and about to burst, you have to wonder where Ashley finds her fire.

The encounters between Madeleine and Ashley are ripe with rapid-fire questions, often resulting in humor. For example, when Madeleine (who's Caucasian) tells Ashley she was born in Japan, she can't wrap her head around it. "No you were not," Ashley insists.

Director Phil Morrison and writer Angus MacLachlan weave overlapping themes throughout their culture shock experiment. While we're meant to understand George's family as simple, unambitious and God-fearing creatures, it's hard to tell if this is an accusation or a compliment. That's because the one thing they have that Madeleine has is a sense of family, and the responsibility that comes with that.

While not much happens in "Junebug," lurking throughout are several interesting themes and questions. Can friendships and understanding thrive across gaping rifts in intelligence? When it comes to family, should you sow what you reap and vice versa? Then there's the whole nature vs. nurture angle: How the heck did George escape his home with a love for anything more than church hymns and homemade biscuits – and if he had stayed at home, would he be a sad clone of younger brother Johnny? The filmmakers don't necessarily answer these questions, but they ask some darn good ones, which is more than you can expect from most movies.

"Junebug" is rated R and is now playing in Richmond and select cities. LAST TIME : Replace the tears with laughs and Whoopi Goldberg with Napoleon Dynamite, and "Just Like Heaven" is just like "Ghost." Sort of.

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