015: Humpday (2009)

Title: Humpday (2009)
Starring: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore
Directed By: Lynn Shelton

Two days ago, Vanity Fair published an article about what they've dubbed the "Humpday Effect". It explains how the smaller, less lauded indie films get overlooked come awards season. In it, they make a strong case for the strength of the script and for the powerful performances in the film. It's sad that without a significantly expensive campaign by the studio, a film like this will be overlooked. No offense to Robert Downey Jr. or to Sherlock Holmes, but if it were up to me to reward a comedic performance from this year with say, the Golden Globe, I would personally be inclined to give it to one of the two leads in this movie over him. Although, then we wouldn't have gotten his amazing acceptance speech or this hilarious interview.

But back to the issue at hand, how is Humpday? It's good. Really good. The plot involves two straight college buddies reconnecting after some years apart and deciding to make a porno film. Together. Starring only the two of them. Ridiculous as it may sound, the set up is handled nicely and with just enough substance to make it somewhat believable. Also handled deftly in the script is what the idea of making this film becomes. It's the elephant in the room. The movie is more about the emotions that come with the moment at hand moving ever more near than it is about the actual moment.

Most of the film was improvised by the three leads. Mark Duplass and Joshua (Josh from The Blair Witch Project) Leonard play the two friends, Ben and Andrew. Alycia Delmore plays Ben's wife Anna. There is a REALLY good chemistry between these three, and when they're given the chance to play off of each other, the film gives us some truly tender and amazingly heartfelt moments. Not all of the improv works quite so well. There are some scenes that tend to go on a little too long and that become a little too repetitive. All in all though, they work more than not.

The direction is a little all-over-the-place and sometimes the camera shots are disorienting, so that's a definite minus. The best thing the film has going for it though is it's pacing. We get just enough intro time to the characters to know who they are and to have an expectation as to how they'll react to the impending situation. Then it's full steam ahead with the plot, right up until the ever more tense and frustrating moment of truth. I won't spoil what goes down or how, but I will say this that you could cut the tension oozing off the screen with a knife. It's tangible. It's real.

This is definitely a funny twist on the whole "bromance" genre, and I truly do wish it could have reached a bigger audience than it did. Maybe then, this awards season would have a few more indie underdogs to root for. Recommended.

Score: 7.5/10