Rough in the beginning, but charming and delightful

Pity the poor sad-sack: Zoe Cadwaulder was orphaned at a young age when a meteor fell on her parents as she ran to get her pet chicken, Red. Throughout her life, disaster and near-disaster has taken out almost everyone around her whom she ever loved. Even now, Zoe has to avoid falling chandeliers shaken loose by the sex-until-the-walls-shake heterosexual couple above her.

One day, Zoe decides to buy a bike helmet for protection. That's when she meets Red, a dyke with fluorescent red hair and a smile to die for. Will Zoe give up her addiction to disaster? Or will karma shake lose a little love for this love-lorn waif? Do you even need to ask? 

Kellie Simpkins ("A League of Their Own," "The Laramie Project") is the luminous Red, and veteran TV and film actress Melanie Lynskey ("Heavenly Creatures," "But I'm A Cheerleader," "Coyote Ugly," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Two and a Half Men") is the dopey, sad but sweet Zoe. 

The film has a terrific premise and the various disasters which befall Zoe and those around her are side-splittingly funny. The film opens with a montage of famous disasters...but the narration and editing are rough and awkward, making for a difficult to the present day and Zoe's current predicament. A little polishing, and this film would be a real gem.

The film's finale, however, is delightful!

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The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder

Dark romcom sees phobia-riddled Zoe (Melanie Lynskey) facing her fears and finding her soulmate.

Melanie Lynskey and Kelli Simpkins in The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder (2004)

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The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder

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