Starring Larenz Tate, Deborah Cox, Martin Cummins, Rainbow Sun Francks, Peter Williams, Sarah Polley, Kenneth Walsh, Jennifer Dale, Clark Johnson. Written and Directed by Clement Virgo. Matthew (Cummins) is a professional boxer and Neville (Tate) is an aspiring stand-up comic just out of rehab. Their mother is serving time for the murder of Neville's father (Matthew's stepfather), an event they both witnessed as kids. Neville falls for Nico (Cox), a young club singer dealing with the pain of her adopted mother's (Dale) imminent death. Struggling with both his comedy routine and a romance not going anywhere, Neville succumbs to temptation and resumes his drug habit. Back at rehab, he receives compassion from one of the nuns (Polley), and begins to put his life back together. But can he maintain his relationship with Matthew? Part of the Perspective Canada program at The Toronto Film Festival, Love Come Down is a well-told character study of two brothers trying to keep their family together despite significant odds. The film goes back and forth between flashbacks of the boys when they were young with their mother and Neville's father, to the present and the effect of their father's death on their present lives. It is aided by a surprisingly witty and humourous script that the cast handles well, although the sympathetic audience at the festival may have coloured my perceptions somewhat. The Nico subplot about her search for her father and the twist near the end is surprising and a nice counter-balance to the intensity of the brother's relationship. There are some weaknesses - for example, the threat of one brother killing the other brother with a machete is stagey and unbelievable. Larenz Tate is excellent as the good-natured comic beaten done by lack of success, handling the comic touches of the script very well. Sarah Polley plays way against type as the nun who takes Neville into rehab, and is very effective as Neville's knowing angel giving him refuge and unconditional love. Jennifer Dale, Kenneth Walsh and Clark Johnson are all quite good in support. Deborah Cox, in her first film is not at all bad, but her work is uneven - great with Tate and Dale, not so great with Walsh or Cummins. Love Come Down is an entertaining and well-made film, well worth a look. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page