Dramatically different

“Norman,” which opens today at the AMC River Park Square 20, is unusual for a Spokane-filmed movie because:

• It is not a low-budget action film.

• It does not star Cuba Gooding Jr.

• It has actually received positive, respectful reviews.

“Norman” is a coming-of-age movie starring Dan Byrd (“Easy A,” “Cougar Town”) and Emily VanCamp (ABC’s “Revenge”). It is already being compared to another sensitive high-school-kid film, “Juno.”

“Yes, you could say it’s ‘Juno’ with cancer,” said director Jonathan Segal, by phone from a screening in Boston. “Of course, it’s more complex than that.”

Byrd plays Norman Long, a self-aware student who is grieving the loss of his mother and now has to deal with his father’s cancer diagnosis. In the midst of this, Norman tells a whopper of a lie: He tells everybody he has cancer, not his father. It turns his world upside down in sometimes comic, sometimes heartbreaking ways.

“It’s high stakes – and a great love story, as well,” said Segal.

Critic Dennis Harvey of Variety said the movie is full of “poignant, understated dramatics.”

“Father and son’s final scene together is a perfectly judged example of restraint maximizing emotional impact,” said Harvey.

Segal said he took great care not to “venture too close to melodrama.” The subject is cancer, but Norman is a naturally funny character and the movie has plenty of humor.

The director has great memories of filming the movie here in June 2008. He picked Spokane for three reasons: the state’s tax incentives, the presence of production company North by Northwest’s proven film infrastructure, and the city’s look.

“It’s such an all-American town, Anytown USA, which is what I was looking for,” said Segal. “We really shot the heck out of Spokane: the bridge, the waterfall, the Lilac Parade, the amusement park area (in Riverfront Park).”

Important scenes were also shot at North Central High School – with the actual students as extras.

“We did it in the last week of school,” said Segal. “It was great. The students were enthusiastic and gave another level of energy to the production. And the hill overlooking the baseball field – that was the tipping point.”

Segal landed a respected Hollywood name, Richard Jenkins, to play Norman’s father. Jenkins has a Best Actor Oscar nomination under his belt from 2007’s “The Visitor.”

The film also stars Adam Goldberg, familiar from such classics as “Dazed and Confused,” “A Beautiful Mind” and “Saving Private Ryan.” You’ll also see a number of local actors.

Segal is especially proud of the soundtrack, by indie-rocker Andrew Bird. This is Bird’s first soundtrack and it is already out on CD.

“Norman” has been on the film festival circuit since the summer of 2010 and has already picked up several awards. It is now being released as part of the “AMC independent” program, intended to give exposure to worthy independent films at select AMC theaters.

“Norman” opens today in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Seattle, as well as Spokane.

Segal said Spokane supported the film throughout the entire process. Now, it can support the film one more time – by catching the finished product.