‘Lost & Found in Cleveland’ Review: Antique Appraisals Rile Up Midwest Cuckoos in a Middling Ensemble Comedy of One-Note Characters
variety.comDennis Harvey Film Critic Though it’s something of a backhanded paean to its eponymous city in question, the most enjoyable element to “Lost & Found in Cleveland” is its locations, locations, locations — cinematographer Davon Slininger’s widescreen images provide an appealing selective tour of a burg the film presents as quaintly lagging well behind the times.
Otherwise, this slick if uninspired first feature for actors turned writer-directors Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak offers a pleasant-enough ensemble seriocomedy that straddles the terrains of Richard Curtis and Christopher Guest, without approaching either’s high points.
The Newport Beach Fest world premiere’s familiar faces and story beats seem best suited to home viewing. An opening montage to the retro pop of Bobby Darin singing “Artificial Flowers” — an incongruously brassy, “Mack the Knife”-like arrangement of a depressing slum-tragedy lyric from 1960 Broadway musical “Tenderloin” — introduces the characters, as well as a sense that this midwestern metropolis’ growth stalled some decades ago.
It’s getting towards Christmastime, but most central figures here are frustrated in one way or another. Many peg hopes on the imminent tour stop of “America’s Favorite Televised Antiques Appraisal Show,” whose traveling experts evaluate the “trash or treasure” that’s been “hiding in your closet.” (Mark L.
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