Review: Funny and Enchanting, 'A Little White Lie' no Imposter

Films about charming imposters and/or potential imposters who are unmasked and, ultimately, forgiven, are as old as the medium itself.

Breathing new life into these tales is a difficult feat and usually up to the actors – especially the lead actor cast as the possible hoaxer. Filmmaker Michael Maren smartly enlisted Michael Shannon as the fraud in his entertaining indie "A Little White Lie," which Maren adapted from Chris Belden's novel.

Shannon has tremendous fun with the role of Shriver, a man with seemingly no history who has allegedly never read a book. He enters a world he finds simultaneously alienating, weirdly enticing, and strangely familiar.

Since his breakout Oscar-nominated role in Sam Mendez' brilliant, underrated gem "Revolutionary Road" in 2008, Shannon has amassed an impressive number of screen and television credits (in 2018 alone he appeared in 11 films/series), always delivering quality work (onstage, as well). Here his trademark idiosyncratic persona is perfect for the character and the dramedy.

The basic plot has blue-collar handyman Shriver mistakenly receiving a letter meant for a one-hit wonder author who disappeared for 20 years (the two share the same name). Shriver apprehensively decides to accept this invitation to attend a college lit festival as the celebrated author, who always shunned the limelight, even to the extent that he was rarely seen or photographed at the peak of his success (Salinger much?).

The mastermind behind luring Shriver out of hiding is Simone Cleary, a harried English professor at a struggling university who is being given one last chance to make her mark. As played by Kate Hudson, she's competitive, curious, slightly desperate, and yet hopeful. Hudson, experiencing a much-deserved career renaissance of late (deliciously diva-esque in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"), perfectly underplays Simone, toning down the normally sycophant-like nature of this type of role – a type that the great Wendie Malick plays to the hilt as a wealthy benefactress, late in the film.

There are sparks between Shriver and Simone, but the film does not focus on the budding romance, choosing instead to emphasize ideas about identity, self-esteem, and the absurdity of celebrity, while gently satirizing the literary world.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph steals all her scenes in a supporting turn, while Zach Braff is delightfully over-the-top in his mysterious role.

The film's only flaw is its lackluster finale. I'm not certain how the novel ends, but the film just peters out, which is a shame because the level-raising comic possibilities were all there.

"A Little White Lie" reminded me of the classic film "Being There," as well as the wonderful "My Salinger Year." Maren puts his own oddball stamp on this genre film creating a funny and enchanting work.

"A Little White Lie" is in theaters and on digital on March 3, 2023.