Landline

I rented this to see Edie Falco’s performance. However, I was taken aback by this work's (and I mean “work” if you picture flop sweat) abject failure. So taken aback that I was compelled to write about its many failures in order to save you 97 minutes of your life. This work fails to achieve any semblance of a coherent aesthetic, any accurate mise en scène (oh, except for P.J.H.), cast chemistry, natural dialogue, or even a solid story. This is a desperate attempt to capture the spirit of a decade (is it the beginning? The middle?) through the reverse telescope of a director who can barely be depended upon to do research. Its Amy Schumer-ish blue jokes, and obvious post post post 4th-wave feminism weren't there in the ‘90s because it was 3rd-wave feminism's era. No one used quaaludes because they were gone. No one used the word "epic" until approximately 2013. Where is Greta Gerwig? Lucía Puenzo? Campion when she made "Sweetie?" S. Coppola? Chaiken? Or a new voice. The time is so right for many newcomers. It's tragic that this film was funded at all. This is a perfect example of the word “simulacrum:” A copy of something for which there is no original. Or just the word sad.

Jenny Slate pulls off the most dramatic performance of her career with this realistic take on relationships and the impact that our situations at home can have on them. Great casting, decent pacing, excellent soundtrack.