Written and Directed by Lake Bell
Starring Lake Bell, Rob Corddry, Fred Melamed, Michaela Watkins, Demetri Martin
For an hour, this is a clever, pleasant, and original story about a slacker, wannabee voice- over actor (Lake Bell) who inadvertently stumbles on some success much to the chagrin of her father (Melamed), a career voice-over actor of some repute. It is also a rom-com, a study of family dynamics, a look at the voice-over industry, a feminist tract, and a few other things I am probably missing. It is hard to pin a real genre on it because, to me, it was more reminiscent of a cable series than a movie. All of that was okay though until we reached the third act, which was trite, predictable, and preachy (Geena Davis as a studio exec).
On the way home, we were able to come up with several better endings than the one Bell stuck it with. But the soft landing does not diminish a look at an actor/writer/director who may be around for some time. It is good-hearted movie and there are many fine moments before the nose-dive.
Patti Abbott
I didn’t hate the last third, but the voice-off was pretty trite, and the award sequence even moreso…the Geena Davis bit I rather liked better than Melamed’s self-justification (of sorts) during his speech. Lake Bell has been with us for the better part of a decade…in the series FATHOM and HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA, and most comfortably in CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, among other work, but there have been better…and worse…first films. I rather enjoyed the trophy wife who proves her mettle.
I like Demetri Martin a lot. I’d be tempted to see it just for him.