The Drop is about a happy couple who are trying to start a family. Lex (Anna Konkle, Pen15) and Mani (Jermaine Fowler, Coming 2 America) have just arrived at a tropical resort for a wedding. Before the party can begin, Lex drops the soon to be married couples’ baby in front of everyone. What was looking to be a weekend at an island paradise turns into a nightmare filled with painful revelations and tense encounters.
Writers Joshua Leonard (who also plays Josh in the movie) and Sarah Adina Smith (who also serves as director) do not pull any punches with their comedy. A baby being dropped on concrete is just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the jokes revolve around smelly vaginas and poop, but there is also comedy that reaches for more than low hanging fruit. This variety keeps things from getting stale. The jokes can – and do – come from all over.
Whether it is able to make the audience laugh is especially important since the characters are not the most likable. Everyone on the island has a passive-aggressive attitude that seems to be an attempt to cover how selfish they all are. From hidden agendas to being narcistic and oblivious, the travelers in The Drop can be a hard bunch to watch. This becomes evident in the final moments when Mani – who is the only person many will end up liking – emphatically ends up telling everyone else to go away. It is played for laughs, but chances are anyone watching has been thinking the same thing for the past hour and a half.
It is a shame that the characters are so grating since the movie is able to do so much right. Along with funny dialogue, The Drop has a great cold open. It sets up its two main characters and the situation before cutting to dramatic music and crashing ocean waves. This happens throughout the film and makes for a great segue each time. It also tackles themes of friendship and family along with being a commentary about today’s society.
The third act takes a more thoughtful detour that does not work so well since Lex and Mani have not be adequately explored. Much like the rest of The Drop, the outstanding comedy keeps things interesting. It also is a reminder that even Lex and Mani have barely been explored. There is no doubting how funny the movie is, but for some that will not be enough.
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