Canvas

Drama about schizophrenia struggles to define its own personality

By Matt Pais

Critic's Rating:

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Mary's (Marcia Gay Harden) schizophrenia causes her to become paranoid, unpredictable and irrational, resulting in stress for her husband John (Joe Pantoliano) and problems at school for her pre-teen son Chris (Devon Gearhart).

Big question: Does "Canvas" paint a vivid picture of mental illness and its effect on the family of those afflicted?

Skip it: Writer-director Joseph Greco treats a difficult subject with respect but doesn't uncover any unexpected facts or effects of mental illness. Despite strong performances all around, an absence of detail means that "Canvas" teaches little about what it's like to be mentally ill or to know someone who is.

Catch it: If you want to hear Chris' classmates make the expected jokes about his mom being "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" and needing a straight jacket. Junior high kids are so unoriginal these days!

Bottom line: Schizophrenia wreaks havoc on much more than just the people who suffer from it, and "Canvas" taps into the frustration that comes from sickness without simple solutions. But John building a sailboat for his wife will just remind you of "Evan Almighty"--never a good thing--and a young kid like Chris would surely find other reasons to find his mom overbearing and embarrassing even if she wasn't schizophrenic.

Bonus: Chris shows that it's OK for guys to explore their fashionable side by sewing shirts for his classmates. Though he'd seem like more of a style guru if he didn't pronounce Gucci as "gucky"!