Joel

I think the screenwriter did a poor job with the Penny/Joel relationship. It simply wasn't adequately developed. Why was Joel on crutches? Why was Penny so devoted to this loser guy? Was there some kind of homoerotic subtext in their relationship? After all, Joel seemed to get really pissed when Penny hooked up with Caitlin. Joel didn't seem to like her, either.

I felt the Joel character could have been cut out of the movie and it wouldn't really have made a difference. I think Rory Cochrane, however, did his best with his very underwritten role. He deserved better from the screenwriter.