Movie Reviews

‘The Planters’ review: Indie comedy serves laughs with dry humor

One of the funniest movies of the year.

December 6, 2020

The Planters proves there is an art to dry humor. Many movies are content to let an “edgy” or random comment pass for comedy. Here, the story is a genuinely funny one that will have audiences smiling all the way through. The film is about a woman named Martha Plant (Alexandra Kotcheff) and her new friend Sadie Mayflower (Hannah Leder). Sadie was recently released from the facility she was staying at and is homeless and has multiple personalities. Martha is a telemarketer who also owns her own business as a planter. She plants items, then waits for customers to dig them up and leave payment. When someone digs up her items without payment, the two decide to try and solve the mystery.

Along with starring in The Planters, Kotcheff and Leder wrote and directed the movie. It is a lot for two people to take on. This is especially true in today’s Covid-19 world. The duo also shot the film without an on set crew and in isolation. The movie is a template for qaurentined filmmaking. With so much going on, it seemed inevitable for something to suffer.

Instead, the movie seems to flourish in the environment. Kotcheff and Leder are a great pair with amazing chemistry. The two become fast friends which may not work in other films. It is never an issue in The Planters thanks to the leads. This is especially important in a work that relies almost entirely on two characters. If there is no connection between the leads or if there is obvious friction, the movie as a whole will be impacted. The Planters sees two actors that are effortlessly bouncing lines off each other. The film has a charm that will draw in viewers.

The Planters is effortlessly funny. The premise is an absurd one that is rife for humor. The writing rarely goes for low hanging fruit, relying instead on clever quips and unique situations. There is something here for everybody. This includes some stop motion animated scenes. Sadie has religious visions throughout The Planters that she does not quite understand. These are beautiful sequences that add another layer to an already endearing story.

The Planters is a beautiful story about friendship. Sets are lovingly crafted and shot while the script and characters are alluring. The movie will be reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s catalogue in many ways. There is a quirky quality that is only part of the fun. Memorable characters and a laugh out loud story make this one of the best movies of the year.