KC native Alex Neustaedter stars in new Meg Ryan film, ‘Ithaca’

KC to “Ithaca”

Meg Ryan has been making the interview rounds to promote “Ithaca,” her directorial debut, and to talk about her reunion with Tom Hanks, who plays her late husband in a cameo. But Kansas Citians may care more about the teenager who plays her son: Alex Neustaedter, who grew up in Prairie Village and attended Pembroke Hill before moving to Los Angeles.

In the film, based on William Saroyan’s 1943 novel “The Human Comedy,” Neustaedter is Homer, a 14-year-old telegram messenger whose father dies and whose older brother — played by Ryan’s son, Jack Quaid — goes off to World War II. The film was shot in summer 2014 in Richmond and Petersburg, Va.

It opens Sept. 9 in just a few theaters — in the Kansas City area, it’s only at AMC Town Center. The movie wasn’t made available in advance for our critics, but, unfortunately, the few who have seen it have not been kind: It stands at 0 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. “An egregiously clunky and phony coming-of-age story,” says the Village Voice. “The total ineptitude on display here is genuinely stunning,” says Slant Magazine.

Perhaps Neustaedter can take solace in the fact that critics like “Colony,” the USA network sci-fi series in which he co-stars with Josh Holloway. It’s set to return in 2017.

Music to our ears

Seems like everyone was reading Ann Patchett’s best-selling 2001 novel “Bel Canto” and it would be a natural for a movie. Finally, Hollywood is making it happen, says Variety. Julianne Moore will play a famous soprano who travels to a military dictatorship in South America to give a private concert for a rich Japanese industrialist (Ken Watanabe). Demian Bichir plays the leader of guerrillas who take over the mansion and are soon charmed by the music. Paul Weitz will direct.

Wild for Wilder

“Young Frankenstein” will come alive in theaters once again Oct. 5, with a live introduction from writer/director Mel Brooks, who will pay tribute to the late star Gene Wilder. The intro will be broadcast from the 20th Century Fox lot in 500 theaters nationwide, says Fathom Events. In addition to touring the studio lot, where much of the movie was filmed, Brooks will reminisce about his friend and collaborator Wilder, who died from complications from Alzheimer’s. Other Wilder favorites, “Blazing Saddles” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” are playing in theaters this weekend. See details here.

This story was originally published September 7, 2016 at 6:14 PM with the headline "KC native Alex Neustaedter stars in new Meg Ryan film, ‘Ithaca’."