Review of “Running On Empty Dreams”

Warning: a few minor plot spoilers ahead.

Running on Empty Dreams (2007) may be one of the most emotionally exhausting lesbian films to come along since Boys on the Side, though it lacks the permanence and star power of the 1995 classic.

Instead, Running — recently released on DVD — offers a distinct indie charm, a wonderful, fulfilling lesbian romance (which is based on true events) and about 12 minutes of superfluous running time.

Written and directed by Nitara Lee Osbourne, the film is clearly a labor of love, though the end product is undeniably uneven.

The movie begins with the beautiful, brooding Sydney (Kathleen Benner) traveling to Arizona with her ex-marine husband (Corey, played by Jose Rosete) and their adorable son, Matt.

Kathleen Benner and Jose Rosete

Sydney is ill with thyroid cancer and the family has very little money, so she daydreams her life away. She’s also an aspiring screenwriter — penning lesbian-oriented films while sighing at her computer screen — and an avid fitness freak, an aspect that doesn’t jive well with her cancer treatments.

They soon settle into a house in a modest little Phoenix suburb, right across the street from Jane (Rachel Owens), a free-spirited single mom who closely resembles Amy Poehler. Corey spends long stretches of time on the road, so Jane and Sydney spend plenty of time together; doing play dates with the kids and swapping life stories while watching old flicks.

Benner and Rachel Owens

Their friendship grows increasingly intense until it becomes obvious that something a bit more amorous is working beneath the surface. Sydney is then faced with staying true to her hard-working (and very earnest) husband, or running off with Jane.

Complicating everything is Sydney’s cancer, her dedication to her existing family, and a very strange ex-lesbian neighbor who keeps popping up to torment our heroines into following “the right path” — that is, to live a life of celibacy.

The characters are all quite well drawn and the acting is top-notch across the board (save for a couple of folks who appear to be straight out of the twilight zone). Sydney’s journey makes for good drama — and her character is interesting, conflicted and complicated. Owens does a great job with Jane, avoiding any obvious “she’s the free-spirited lesbian!” clichés.