The Cape Cod of “Give or Take” isn’t the typical sand dunes and salty air. Shot in Orleans, it’s a Cape Cod that will be familiar to anyone who knows the area: expensive real estate; an inviting local bar; mini golf; and, best of all, a drive in movie theater
Martin (Jamie Effros who co-wrote the film) grew up in Orleans. At the start of the film, he’s driving from New York back home for the funeral of his estranged father, Ken. Even though we realize Martin hasn’t been part of Dad’s life in a while, he has no qualms about walking into the house and taking a look around. It’s where he grew up, after all, but now he’s the odd man out. He has an awkward reunion with Ted (Norbert Leo Butz), Ken’s live-in boyfriend for the last six years when Martin wasn’t around much.
Martin behaves somewhat insensitively. He lets a pushy realtor (a funny Chei Oteri) into
the house shorty after Ken’s service when for Ted the place is bursting with memories. That seems to be the point: beneath Martin’s subtle homophobia is resentment for what Ted, a landscaper, shared with Ken and because Martin didn’t really know his Dad. Martin flounders and regresses, from reconnecting with an attractive platonic friend (Joanne Tucker) who now runs the local pub and provides Martin with some wise advice to hanging with the stoner/philosopher (Louis Cancelmi) who cleans the pool. There’s also the kid next door who befriended Ken, telegraphing Martin’s childhood pain a little too schematically.
If the film doesn’t offer many surprises as we see through Martin’s anger to his thinly masked grief, director Paul Riccio who wrote the script with Effros wins us over with gentle renderings of characters. The actors deliver likable performances, especially Butz’s physical comedy as a sensitive but goofy, non stereotypical gay man who fishes and guzzles beer. We might guess where things are headed but this leisurely trip to Cape Cod is worthwhile.