Some time ago there was a British film called Absolute Beginners. That film was set in a totally different universe than Beginners, opening Friday at the River Oaks Three in Houston. Beginners stars Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Melanie Laurent. McGregor plays a milquetoast guy stumbling through his comfortable life when his Dad (Plummer, giddy much of the time) informs him that he’s dying, and that at age 75 he’s coming out of the closet.

McGregor manages to hook up with Laurent, herself an actress working in L.A. There’s a dog that has its thoughts revealed to the audience as subtitles. That the dog has a life makes a strong contrast with McGregor who doesn’t really know how to enjoy himself.

Beginners, as directed by Mike Mills, drifts from small intimate drama to lackadaisical comedy and never really takes off despite being full of charm. Mills is married to Miranda July and there’s a sort of quaintness here in Beginners also found in her films. Plummer especially is fine but it’s not the kind of role that creates a life of its own.

- Michael Bergeron