I'm Reed Fish: Who's Reed Fish?

If your first thought upon hearing of the new movie I'm Reed Fish is "Who's Reed Fish?" you're certainly not alone. Who is Reed Fish? Is that even a real name? How could his (her?) parents be so cruel/awesome? Why don't more people have animal last names (we want to meet a Mr. Platypus)? Shouldn't Reed Fish & Co. be the name of a hedge fund company? And are there real live "reed fish"? (Yes, and they are damn weird-lookin'. Though maybe not quite as weird-looking as Reed Fish himself.)

In addition to being an actual type of fish, Reed Fish is apparently a random slacker with a penchant for taking incredibly blurry photos of restaurants. The guy wrote a movie about his life and somehow convinced Alexis Bledel, Schuyler Fisk, DJ Qualls, Jay Baruchel, and other celebrity-ish types to star in it. How the dream of every hippie Austinite with a screenplay in his or her desk drawer (oh, don't pretend you're not one of 'em) came true for a dude from NorCal remains a bit of a mystery, but apparently this folksy coming-of-age-type tale displays genuine quirkiness and accurately represents the charm and boredom of small-town life. (Then again, the NY Post hated it--maybe New Yorkers just don't get drama if it's not in an urban setting.)

Synopsis: Reed Fish (Jay Baruchel) is a radio personality in the small town of Mud Meadows, where the biggest news story is the village zorse (a zebra/horse cross). Reed seems to have it all: his radio show is relatively popular and he's engaged to his gorgeous high-school sweetheart Kate (Alexis Bledel). The status quo is disturbed when childhood friend Jill (Schuyler Fisk) returns to town after graduating from a big-city college. Jill's radical guitar stylings rock Reed's world and make him wonder if there isn't something more to life than gabbing on the radio and marrying his longtime lady.

So who is Reed Fish, and will he marry Kate or run off with Jill? Find out for yourself tonight, when the Austin Film Festival screens I'm Reed Fish at the Regal Arbor Cinema. Free for AFF members and just $4 for regular people.

I'm Reed Fish
Wednesday, June 6th
Regal Arbor Cinema, 9828 Great Hills Trail
7:30pm, $4 / Free for AFF members