A compassionate drama that wants to sift through and examine notions of expanded family, Run & Jump flirts with being a lot of different things, but succeeds in being none of them. The debut feature film of co-writer and director Steph Green, this Irish import — featuring one of two dramatic turns by ex-Saturday Night Live star Will Forte this season — has a rooted sense of place, but lacks the resolution and fortitude to push past pretty, dressed-up surface conflict and into areas that might leave a lasting mark with viewers.

Telling the story of emotional issues stirred up when a buttoned-up American doctor (Forte) gets a research grant to stay with an optimistic wife and mother (Maxine Peake) whose husband (Edward MacLiam) is suffering the aftereffects from a personality-altering stroke and coma, Run & Jump unfolds with much warmth and consideration, but seems skittish of pushing its characters into deeper conflict or friction. Content to play around the edges, Green’s film fritters away viewers’ attention. For the full, original review, from ShockYa, click here. (Sundance Selects, R, 101 minutes)