Written & Directed By: Jill Soloway
Cinematography By: Jim Frohna
Editor: Catherine Haight
Cast: Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple, Josh Radnor, Jane Lynch, Jessica St. Clair, Michaela Watkins, John Kapelos, Josh Stanberg, Keegan Michael-Key, Annie Mumolo
Rachel is a quick-witted and lovable stay-at-home mom. Frustrated with the realities of preschool auctions, a lackluster sex life and career that's gone kaput, Rachel visits a strip club to spice up her marriage and meets McKenna, a stripper she adopts as her live-in nanny.
The film has some nice touches of originality and while it is billed a comedy at times takes a more spear headed turn for the serious and dramatic. Though in a melodramatic way not a tragic one.
The film shows the work of a director with a story to tell and knows exactly how they want to tell it.
It's a welcome change from the norm, where we have a female director telling a serious comic situation more from a female point of view and making the men more minor
I have to say Kathryn Hahn is one of my favorite current actresses she is usually in comedies. Here this is her odd leading role that calls on her to be more grounded in reality and she passes with flying colors. There is always a gusto and energy that she brings to her performances that helps her to show no fear in any acting. As she bares all literally on screen physically and emotionally.
Juno temple as always is a delight sexy, assured, damaged yet with a positive outlook and a certain innocence that she uses for her advantage.
Josh Radnor feels like the bargain version of Zach Braff (who himself reminds me of a younger more vibrant Matthew Broderick) though Braff doesn't seem to be a blockbuster superstar and is an affordable get. This is all to say that in Radnor's performance he doesn't do anything wrong. He just seems too young for the role. It might be just to me and all those years seeing him on the show HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.
The film turns it's head on the idea of hooker with a heart of gold. Making a fully realized character who is as sweet as she is nasty. Hoping only to help people and help the find pleasure, but isn't ping to be a victim and knows when she is being used up. Street smart enough to know how to hairless and while not making all the right decisions, keeps moving on.
In an interview writer-director cited where are the female woody Allen's a question I also ask as the closest we seem to have currently are Nicole Holfcener (please give, lovely and amazing) and Tamara Jenkins (the savages, slums of Beverly Hills) that I know of and both stay behind the camera, never performing in their films. Though you kind of get their supposed mentality and personality through their work. Though none have straight out and out light comedy they do mix comedy and drama well.
The film is entertaining taking on some deep subjects, yet never dipping head long into them. Though I found it hard to identify with the privileged characters. Who seem to be at a star still in their lives and feel a certain enjoyment out of helping someone less fortunate and then once realizing they aren't some idealized charity. Turning on them and treating them like second class citizens. Like they are so much above them.
You don't feel necessarily sorry for the characters when they are ready to get rid of what they see as trash, get a bit of a comeuppance that alters and shatters their world so they know what it is like to be looked down upon it treated like a outcast. That only upset me as it strengthens their relationship and their resolve and makes them a better couple. It doesn't really damage McKenna either, it just seperates them to move forward. -The scene where she is finally roughly face to face with exactly what McKenna does. It’s awkward, erotic, funny and troubling all at the same time. It really cuts to the heart of the film.
A satisfying rental, though it doesn’t feel as particularly deep as it tries to present itself. Thought the film shows the promise and skills of a writer-director with promise.
Grade: C+
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