There is something inherently perfect about watching a specific film premiere at SXSW that also serves as a vibrant, adorable love letter to the Lone Star State. Since most of the production was shot right here in Texas, the atmosphere at the premiere screening was electric. A perfect match for a film that leans into the local culture and stereotypes here with such wit and that small-town everyone-knows-everyone’s-business affection.
Having seen Shlesinger’s standup prowess in the past, I have a massive amount of respect for how she has translated her brand of humor to the big screen. It takes real carpe diem pizazz to move from the stage to a full-length feature, and she does it with a brutally honest script packed with fantastic quips.
I found myself giggling the whole way through. Shlesinger’s character’s awkward-yet-spunky handling of every situation is frankly adorable. She can’t quite get out of her own way, and watching her antics and silliness is a total joy. The raunchy bits are handled with a refreshing openness, supported by the fact that the set employed an intimacy coordinator to ensure the talent felt comfortable during those more vulnerable (and hilarious) scenes.
During the premiere, Iliza Shlesinger noted, “Comedy rarely gets the beauty it deserves, and I wanted this film to look beautiful.” That intention shines through. The cinematography captures a side of Texas that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is comical.
The casting across the board is excellent. The film has adorable characters perfectly fitted to accentuate those classic Texas archetypes; the unmistakable slow-talking twangs and those impeccably feisty put-together women who certainly run their households and maybe even the world. Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) is absolute perfection as Shlesinger’s mother, Layanne. She embodies that specific brand of Southern polish and guilt-trips that feels both familiar and funny. Her husband, played by Jeff Perry, is the perfect bumbling blockhead who can’t piece together a meaningful sentence. He was “a real hoot”… and if you’ve been wondering where Tom Welling (Smallville) has been hiding, you’re in luck. He plays a central role and fits into the comedic landscape surprisingly well.
Lastly, I have to mention the twist: I genuinely did not see it coming. It delivers one of those face-slapping, jaw-dropping moments of hysterical blindness that high-energy comedies need to truly land.
‘Chasing Summer’ premiered at this year’s Sundance film festival and is reportedly going to be streamable on Apple TV in the future…