The Movie is a look at fandom to the most extreme degree. Janet Gillespie (Bonnie Root) is a former child star who is trying to move on with her life. One night a delivery comes for her making her the unwilling star of a renegade director’s project.
Janet and Jarrod Pistilli’s Walter are the only two characters for much of the time. Films set primarily in one setting are always tricky – especially when the cast is so small. This makes the performances take on greater importance as they can make or break the production.
The acting in The Movie is a mixed bag. While both Root and Pistilli do great, Root is more consistent. Pistilli has a tendency to take the character of Walter too far. The story is supposed to be uncomfortable, but there are times Pistilli makes it almost comical.
This is usually not the case, however. The plot walks a fine line of taking things to a ridiculous extreme but manages to reel things in enough to deliver the proper emotion. There are some moments in The Movie that are intentionally difficult to watch adding the intensity of the situation.
The action moves at a nice clip with few lulls. This is a wise decision that prevents The Movie from wearing out its welcome. The straightforward storytelling allows each decision and moment to sink in. It also brings added excitement.
Ultimately, writer-director Michael Mandell does not always get the point across. There are some interesting themes tackled – the price of fame and what people will do to attain it are the most obvious – but The Movie can also be too grating.
The Movie is out on digital platforms
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