By Mark Saldana
Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
Written and directed by Sophie Goodhart, this unabashedly, non-politically correct romantic comedy truly won my heart because of its honesty. The protagonists feel genuine, real and certainly relatable. Nick Kroll stars as Bill, an unhappy underachiever forced to live in the shadow of his disabled, but overachieving brother Robbie (Adam Scott). One night, Bill encounters a kindred spirit in Rose (Jenny Slate), another hopelessly down- on-herself underachiever who feels the need to atone for some heavy baggage in her past. Even though the two share an awkward one-night-stand, Bill believes he has found his soul mate. Rose, on the other hand, wishes to distance herself from what she feels is misstep down the wrong path. The two unexpectedly cross paths again when Rose begins dating Bill’s brother Robbie.
The sharp comedic writing and superb performances by the cast makes this movie a hilarious and unexpectedly fresh entry in the romantic comedy genre. Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate make a perfect match as an amusingly awkward and unromantic couple, but a charming one because of their haplessness. Adam Scott is absolutely stellar as the douche-bag, egomaniacal titular character who seems to relish in making his brother’s life a living hell. In addition to SXSW, this film has played at three other film festivals and is due to screen at the Nantucket Film Festival on June 26, 2016. I hope this movie gets a proper theatrical release and gets the attention it deserves.