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| Courtesy of Netflix |
(Rated TV-14 for language and sexual content. Now streaming on Netflix.)
The cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu and Pete Davidson.
What it’s about: Harper (Deutch) and Charlie are two overworked and underpaid assistants who work for incredibly high-maintenance – and possibly insane – bosses (Liu and Diggs). After the two discover what they have in common, they realize if they can get their employers to start dating each other, they’ll have a lot more free time of their own.
The good: It’s a shame that romantic comedies have become virtually extinct at the multiplex. A reliable genre since the 1930s, we’re well past the days when a great romcom could turn actors like Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and Matthew McConaughey into movie stars.
Since most entries in the genre are modestly budgeted, they don’t have to appeal to everyone who goes to the theater. In fact, these days they don’t have to play on the big screen at all. Netflix has apparently noticed that no studios are catering to this hugely overlooked demographic and they’re picking up the slack.
Set It Up is a textbook example of everything charming about romantic comedies, with almost none of the gross sexist stereotypes that genre fans frequently have to put up with. I’m going to assume that’s because of Katie Silberman’s clever and kindhearted screenplay, as well as Claire Scanlon’s assured direction. Even though they include practically every romcom cliché in the book (including a couple of meet-cutes, the gay best friend and a race to the airport in the third act to stop someone from making a big mistake), they do so with a fun, creative wink.
I’ve been a huge fan of Deutch since her winning performance in Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! and I’m baffled that she isn’t a Jennifer Lawrence-level movie star. She’s fantastic as Harper, endearing and poised as an aspiring writer looking for her big breakthrough. Her work here reminds me a lot of her mother, Lea Thompson, in Back to the Future. (Scanlon must think so too, considering “The Power of Love” plays at a key moment in the film; I literally shrieked with joy.)
Powell is also fantastic, demonstrating scorching chemistry with his former Everybody Wants Some!! co-star. Charlie could’ve been a cocky, unlikable character, but Powell makes him sweet and charming instead. There’s a surprising vulnerability that other actors might’ve tried to squash in favor of looking like a more traditional romcom guy. Honestly, I kind of hope Netflix wants to turn Deutch and Powell into their own version of Hanks and Ryan. I’d watch several more romcoms with the pair.
The not-so-good: Again, Silberman and Scanlon don’t reinvent the wheel here. If you don’t like knowing exactly what’s going to happen in a movie within the first 20 minutes, Set It Up isn’t for you. Also, I’m no prude, but the film is a weird combination of tame and crude in a way that makes Netflix’s TV-14 rating a little confusing. If this was a theatrical release, it’d be a light R (a few f-bombs and some other language) but the tone is strangely gentle.
Grade: B+
Damsel
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| Courtesy of Magnolia |
(Rated R for some violence, language, sexual material, and brief graphic nudity. Now playing in limited release.)
The cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner and Robert Forster.
What it’s about: Set in the Wild West circa 1870, this dark comedy features a host of eccentric characters, all of whom are more complex than they initially appear. Samuel Alabaster (Pattinson) is a wealthy pioneer who recruits an alcoholic minister (David Zellner) in his effort to rescue his beloved Penelope (Wasikowska) from a pair of kidnappers. However, once they arrive at their destination, viewers learn there’s more to Alabaster’s story than he initially shared.
The good: David and Nathan Zellner, brothers who share writing and directing duties (as well as play major roles), spin an entertaining yarn that examines Western tropes through a distinctly modern lens. I was constantly surprised, laughed far more than I expected and was never bored despite a methodically paced first half. That’s primarily due to the Zellners’ gift for dialogue as well as Adam Stone’s beautiful cinematography.
As the title suggests, Wasikowska’s character isn’t a stereotypical damsel in distress – although it’s interesting that all the men in the story view her that way, as is her reaction to that treatment. She’s excellent in a role that requires far more of her than the synopsis above suggests.
Pattinson is also fantastic as Alabaster, an erudite man whose extensive vocabulary and sharp wardrobe masks a dangerously naïve view of the world. He’s also surprisingly funny, which he hasn’t gotten many chances to show throughout his career.
The not-so-good: Damsel is just plain weird, which I loved but mainstream viewers might find frustrating. Still, Western fans might get a kick of seeing a different take on the genre. It’s a tough movie to describe and the trailer doesn’t sell it well either, considering it understandably needs to mask the film’s many surprises – some fun, others not so much.
Grade: B
The Gospel According to André
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| Courtesy of Magnolia |
The cast: André Leon Talley, Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Fran Lebowitz and Whoopi Goldberg.
What it’s about: André Leon Talley has been a fixture in the fashion world since the 1970s, when he got his start working for Andy Warhol. By the 1980s, he was a highly respected editor at Vogue and friends with some of the most revered designers, models, actors and activists on the planet. That’s quite a career path for a gay black teenager who grew up in the Jim Crow South. Through fascinating archival footage and insightful interviews with Talley and his colleagues, The Gospel According to André chronicles that journey.
The good: Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay this documentary is that I knew absolutely nothing about Talley or fashion beforehand (as anyone who has seen my wardrobe can attest), but I found the film immensely compelling. Talley is a boisterous, larger-than-life figure (in more ways than one; a segment of the narrative recounts his frustrating struggle to lose weight) who has no problem speaking his mind about issues, whether it’s fashion, civil rights, pop culture or politics.
It’s always an invigorating experience to finish a movie and feel like you’ve actually learned something in addition to enjoying yourself. That’s certainly what happened with The Gospel According to André – in the span of 93 minutes, I went from not knowing who someone was to greatly admiring him and wanting to know more about him. It was also interesting to see friends and colleagues as varied as Wintour, Goldberg, and Will.i.am discuss Talley, his work and their immense respect for him.
The not-so-good: Honestly, not much. It’s a terrific example of the genre in a strong year for documentaries. In a brief amount of time, director Kate Novack introduces Talley and explains why he’s so important, but also makes sure to let her subject speak for himself as much as he can. As a result, it feels about as non-invasive and unassuming as a documentary can be.
I was going to say the film might not be for everyone, but then I realized I’m nowhere near the target demo and I still enjoyed it. So, who knows? Expand your horizons a bit and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Grade: B+
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