Dear Lemon Lima

Suzi Yoonessi may not know enough about Alaska to know there is few things cheesier than having the main character perform an "Eskimo Igloo dance."  She may not realize just how weak it is to claim poverty as the reason she chose to shoot the film in  Seattle - but I am forgiving her, just this once, because this syrupy tween movie is so much more than that.  

Vanessa, played by Eagle River's urethral Savanah Wiltfong (any relation to CHS graduate Eric Wiltfong?) captures the conflict of the politics of being Alaska Native in urban Alaska.  Vanessa claiming her heritage and making it her own during the "Igloo" dance is the money shot of this movie.  Read that as Phillip Blanchett saved the day.  Seriously, saved the film.

Other standouts include Shayne Topp as Philip Georgey - the boy-you-love-to-hate love interest, Zane Huett as Hercules Howard - the boy-next door with helicopter parents; and Maia Lee as Madeline "Nothing"Amigone - the life-filled daughter of morticians.

Yoonessi addresses serious issues with the dark humor reserved for those living in areas where near death experiences confirm God's intent for you to still be breathing on a weekly basis.  She was able to accomplish this with a gentle kindness rarely seen in films today, especially those dealing with teenage girls.  It was refreshing to watch values being taught instead of preached, and embraced instead of rebelled against.

A must see for Alaskan teens, Dear Lemon Lima plays again on Sunday, December 13th at 5:30 pm at the Beartooth Theaterpub.