Whenever I can make this daily entertainment column focused on a local entertainment name, for me, it's like the cherry on an ice cream sundae.

Reader Sue Yerkes tipped me off this week that one of our own region claim-to-fames has a new feature film opening in Chicago this weekend:

"The movie titled 'Bob Funk' playing in Chicago at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema at Clark and Diversey was written and directed by Craig Carlisle, a Hammond High Graduate. It has even been reviewed in the Friday movie section of the Chicago newspapers. He is a very good friend of my son's who grew up in Munster, and is also a writer in NYC. Hope you can write about it. Sue Yerkes"

Thank you for your e-mail Sue.

This film first opened in New York and limited markets Feb. 27, and, finally, it's here in Chicago.

Billed in the promotion material as "A Film by Craig Carlisle," the basic plot is simple.

After he's fired from his job, by his mother, no less, Bob Funk agrees to quit drinking, see a therapist and eventually report to a new boss, who might just be the woman of his dreams.

The title character of Bob is played by actor Michael Leydon Campbell and his eventual love interest is actress Rachel Leigh Cook, who has been a frequent costar opposite Freddie Prinze Jr. in films like "Yes" in 1997 and "She's All That" in 1999.

As for Carlisle, the son of Paula and Clayton Carlisle of Schererville, his first major film project wasn't working behind the scenes as a writer and director. Instead, he was in front of the camera playing the part of bartender Klaus Vachon in the 2004 comedy film "Looking for Kitty" costarring actor Ed Burns and actress Rachel Dratch and actor Chris Parnell, both of "Saturday Night Live" fame, and directed and written by Burns.

But after attending Indiana State University and New York University, Carlisle first worked in theater, directing more than three dozen stage productions in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

I'm excited to see this new film while it has its debut in the Windy City.

And as an added trivia tip to readers who also check out this film, look for photographer-turned-actress Sonya Rokes, who Carlisle just married last June.

Rokes, who worked opposite the late, great actor Tony Randall in the 2005 movie "It's About Time" plays Laura in her husband's new film. In this previous film, she had the honor of working with Randall during his final film during the production in 2004 before his May 2005 death at age 84.

You can find about more about Carlisle's new film "Bob Funk" at the movie's Web site, bobfunkthemovie.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

Today's Celebrity Birthdays

Famed political spouse Ethel Kennedy is 82. Actor Joel Grey is 77. Actress Louise Lasser is 70. Pulitzer-winning newspaper columnist Ellen Goodman is 68. Actors Peter Riegert and Meshach Taylor ("Designing Women," "Dave's World") are 62. Actor Carl Franklin ("The Fantastic Journey") is 60. Actor Bill Irwin is 59. Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 52. Guitarist Nigel Pulsford (Bush) is 48. Country singer Steve Azar is 45. Former TV child commercial actor Mason Reese (The "borgasmord" pitchkid for Underwood Deviled Ham) is 44. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 43. Bassist Dylan Keefe of Marcy Playground is 39. Rapper David Banner is 35. Drummer Chris Gaylor of All-American Rejects is 30. Singer Joss Stone is 22.