The Extra Man (film)

The Extra Man is a 2010 comedy film based on Jonathan Ames' novel of the same name. Written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, the film stars Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, Katie Holmes, and John C. Reilly.

Plot
A failed playwright, Henry Harrison, develops an odd mentor relationship with Louis Ives, a troubled, cross-dressing, aspiring writer to whom Henry sublets a room in his New York apartment. Henry teaches Louis the art of being an "extra man", accompanying and entertaining wealthy older women in their fanciful social lives. Along the way, Louis encounters an environmentally conscious co-worker, Mary Powell, and a jealous, eccentric neighbor, Gershon.

Cast

 * Kevin Kline as Henry Harrison
 * Paul Dano as Louis Ives
 * Katie Holmes as Mary Powell
 * John C. Reilly as Gershon Gruen
 * Patti D'Arbanville as Katherine Hart
 * Alicia Goranson as Sandra
 * Marian Seldes as Vivian Cudlip
 * Dan Hedaya as Aresh
 * Alex Burns as Brad
 * Jason Butler Harner as Otto Bellman
 * Lynn Cohen as Lois Huber
 * John Pankow as George
 * Jackie Hoffman as Pushy woman
 * Jonathan Ames as Gentleman

Production
Filming took place in New York City between the end of February and the beginning of April 2009.

Release
The film premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and released theatrically on July 30, 2010.

Reception
The film divided critics. Film review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes earned a 43 percent approval rating among 68 critics, with an average of 5.4 out of 10. Rival aggregator Metacritic assigned a weighted score of 56 out of 100 based on 26 professional reviews.