Shrink

If you're looking for a film to truly depress you, "Shrink" is the film for you. This drama wastes any potential it has to be brilliant. Even with the terrific cast, this film tries too hard to touch you emotionally. With a forced plot and dull direction, "Shrink" is a melodramatic, contrived flick that will leave you feeling disappointed at the end.

Directed by Jonas Pate, this film tells the story of a well-known Hollywood shrink who finds himself struggling to cope after a tragedy that unexpectedly struck his life. With nowhere to turn, this celebrity shrink becomes a pothead. He fails to care about his surroundings, anything from the way he looks to how he used to help his patients work through their problems.

"Shrink" has an all-star cast, including Kevin Spacey as Henry Carter, Mark Webber as Jeremy, Keke Palmer as Jemma, Saffron Burrows as Kate Amberson, Jack Huston as Shamus, Pell James as Daisy, Laura Ramsey as Keira and Dallas Roberts as Patrick. Also featured throughout the film are Robert Loggia, Gore Vidal, Jesse Plemons, Griffin Dunne and Joel Gretsch.

The beginning of this film is promising with a potentially fascinating and clever story. However, as the film progresses, the scenes become more and more dry. The plot that unfolds is rather glib. Pate has the perfect opportunity to create a masterpiece. Instead, he chooses to direct his cast straight into the ground.

The ending was also a major letdown. It was a predictable, cliche ending to an already phony flick.

"Shrink" has its ups and downs, but without smooth, clever direction, this film failed to entertain beyond the surface.