I’ve seen a lot of funny movies. I’ve seen a lot of deep movies. It’s rare that I see both combined  so skillfully as I did in “Arlen Faber,” a 2009 Sundance Film Festival selection starring Jeff Daniels. Daniels plays Arlen Faber, a internationally bestselling author whose spiritual self-help book “Me & God” captivated millions of readers in the late ’80s. Despite the spiritual peace present in the book, however, the author is an angry, bitter recluse living off the continuing success of the book.
After falling into complete isolation, however, Faber begins to open up to people after meeting a chiropractor named Elizabeth, played by Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”). Faber’s seclusion is also intruded upon by Kris Lucas, a bookstore owner who is struggling to recover from alcoholism.
The script, by director John Hindman, is quick, witty and enjoyable. Although the acting isn’t tremendous and the overall plot may be another cliched addition to the romantic comedy genre, the characters’ struggles to understand spirituality and find meaning are real and profound. Hindman, who was a stand-up comedian for 10 years, certainly lets his sense of humor show through in the film, but he also presents his own theological struggles – as he explained in the post-screening Q&A.
Hindman said his goal was to make a movie that would give audiences something to talk about “all the way to the car” after leaving the theater. He undoubtedly succeeded.
* “Arlen Faber” – 7 out of 10.