Seen at...
Feels (The)
- Director: Jenée LaMarque
- Writer: Jenée LaMarque; Lauren Parks
- Producer: Steven J. Berger; Beatrice von Schwerin
CGiii Comment
Sometimes you watch a film and wonder: Who was this made for? If the answer is: Solely for the cast and crew...almost immediately, the word 'oops' pops into mind!
This is an ensemble piece about a [lesbian] bachelorette party...obviously, heavily improvised...the problem with improvisation, it takes a tough director to steer it away from indulgence...oops! Dialogue-driven as it is, the director ought to have screamed 'cut' more than she did, too many conversations go on-and-on taking the film nowhere. Oops. As for the numerous straight-to-camera interjections...jump-cut hell...either the editor just wasn't up to the job...or, lazy writing, lazy performances and lazy direction made these scenes intolerable to work with and you can only work with what you've got! Oops.
There is no story to speak of...unless, a drunken revelation about not having an orgasm counts as a story! There's an irksome little man sniffing around these women like a mangy dog on heat...he manages [inexplicably] to bang the only straight woman there! There's a stoner who's stoned and a singer who sings sounding stoned. Who wrote this stuff?!? The cast did! Oops.
Too many 'oopses'.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Loveable brides-to-be Andi and Lu can’t wait to get away with their closest friends to a luxury home nestled in Northern California wine country for their co-bachelorette party. Quirky greetings among their assortment of pals, including Andi’s childhood best friend Josh, Lu’s awkwardly late sister Nikki, YouTube-famous singer Kárin, self-absorbed actress Vivien, and the hilariously affable chef Helen, relax into a warm and fuzzy evening fueled by cocktails and a few hits of ecstasy. The convivial vibe screeches to a halt when an inebriated Lu lets slip that she has never had an orgasm, much to Andi’s dismay. This admission sets the weekend off course into slippery waters, where long-held secrets emerge, confessions rise from hidden depths, and a gold-dusted joint or two helps to ease tension with the giddy possibility of summoning Beyoncé’s back-up dancers from unexpected bodily locales.
Written and directed by Jenée LeMarque (The Pretty One), this breezy exploration of the bonds and boundaries of friendship and love stars Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu in a refreshingly fun and candid role. The film grooves to a spirited indie soundtrack, including wonderful originals from cast member Kárin Tatoyan, and features relatable, lived-in performances from a close ensemble whose familiar intimacy rings recognizably true. Light-hearted, sincere, and funny, this case of the feels will leave you grinning and giggling with appreciative good cheer.
— LEAH LOSCHIAVO
Cast & Characters
Constance Wu as Andi;
Angela Trimbur as Lu;
Josh Fadem as Josh;
Jenee LaMarque as Nikki;
Gretchen Klein as Restaurant patron;
Lauren Parks as Vivien;
Ever Mainard as Regular Helen;
Doug Purdy as Uber Driver;
Karin Tatoyan as Karin