Can just being a good listener really help people solve their psychological problems? Dr. Mumford (Loren Dean) hopes so. That mostly sums up his approach to working with the quirky residents of a small town with the same name as his. Mumford’s client list includes a skateboarding billionaire, a pharmacist obsessed with B-movie fantasies, an unhappy married woman addicted to mail order catalogues, a thin teenager who thinks she’s too fat, and a beautiful divorcee suffering from debilitating fatigue.

In each of these cases, Dr. Mumford listens carefully to discover what the real problem might be, then dispenses common sense advice that actually works. He takes the divorcee (Hope Davis) on long walks to build up her strength. Although the billionaire (Jason Lee) employs practically everyone in town, he’s the loneliest man there, so Mumford becomes his best friend. The good doctor uses similar no-nonsense methods with the rest of his clients.

Everything begins to fall apart when the psychologist’s past catches up with him, for Dr. Mumford is not what he claims to be. Unsettling news, indeed. But, by this time, viewers, like most of the townspeople, admire Mumford so much they want him let off the hook as gently as possible. That’s because Dean (Billy Bathgate) oozes empathy from every pore in a non-flashy, yet intriguing, performance. His sensitive portrayal serves as a reminder of how hard it is to find a good listener.

An entire ensemble cast excels in this charming comedy. Davis (Next Stop Wonderland) is terrific as Mumford’s love interest. Frequently referred to as “the sublime Hope Davis,” the classy blonde actress displays her talent for both comedy and drama in the movie’s most challenging role. She must change in manner and appearance from a haggard, broken-hearted client to a vibrant, attractive young woman. She does so with complete believability. In the press notes, Davis admits to wearing weights in her shoes during the early scenes to enhance her “dragged down” feeling. It worked!

Along with Dean, Davis, and Lee, the following actors contribute significantly to the success of Mumford: Ted Danson as a workaholic husband, Mary McDonnell as his unhappy wife, Pruitt Taylor Vince as the repressed pharmacist, Alfre Woodard as Mumford’s landlady, David Paymer as a rival therapist, and Martin Short as an arrogant lawyer --- the one person Mumford refuses to treat.

Writer/director Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill, Grand Canyon) seldom disappoints moviegoers. With Mumford, he continues his fine tradition of bringing to the screen amusing stories about the intricacies of the human condition.

(Released by Touchstone Pictures and rated “R” for sex-related images, strong language, and drug content.)