Indie Film Review “Wait List: A Love-ish Story” The taboos, trepidations, and truths behind the notion of younger man/older woman dramatically, hearteningly explored
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
Someone we desire. The power of attraction is undeniable. Its hold over us in moments when we’ve either seen or been around another whom we are subsequently infatuated with is seemingly insurmountable. While we may see this as opportunity, others might not necessarily quite deem it prudent to pursue….especially when there’s a distinct possibility more than our own lives could be drastically impacted. So….do we still go for it?
Mid-twenties-something Carter (Travis Grant) has JUST a bit of a dream crush on his hands and in his mind. Next door neighbor Lisa (Bec Fordyce) is coming off a messy divorce, and is unbeknowningly the “target” of her younger neighbor’s longstanding amorous feelings. When Carter decides to pull the trigger during an already highly emotional and somewhat confusing time for Lisa, the two try to navigate what could, or could not be, between them. The catch…..she is Carter’s former best friend Denny’s (EJ Acosta) MOTHER! What could go wrong??
Next, my Mind:
The overconfidence and dogged persistence of youth, the depths that infatuation can take you to, and being able to truly define what we want when it comes to our ideal partner in love gets the indie film treatment with admirable style, grounded sensibility, some dramedy, and plenty of sexual tension thanks to this feature film from writer/director/producer Debra Markowitz and producer/cinematographer John Marean. For this critic, it turns into one of those styles of films that should make you appreciate the efforts it takes to simply MAKE a movie, create a story that will be entertaining yet relevant to our human existence, and pull it all together to form a greater whole that we as the viewing audience can absorb, ponder, and find satisfaction with. Personally, I feel this film checks all those boxes, doing so with enough skills and knowhow to elevate it WELL above grass roots efforts while maybe JUST being a little short of completely awesome.
This isn’t attempting to be naysaying even, but just how I particularly ended up feeling as I followed the narrative that sees the exploration of what love looks like when a young man chooses to pursue an older woman, who happens to be the mother of his childhood best friend, and the subsequent ramifications that arise for them both as they decide whether it CAN work or not between them. It’s straightforward, unpretentious, certainly takes on the entire “taboo” of age differences between partners and the perspectives about it through multiple character lenses, and actually serves to provide a realistic enough atmosphere to deliver a totally solid offering. What I think makes it even stronger is the film’s willingness to flesh out just how much of a “honeymoon phase” such a relationship engenders a core foray into what actually seems purely physical vs. what it takes to REALLY embark on something that requires genuine commitment and understanding.
This idea of an almost “forbidden fairy tale” (so to speak) fortunately doesn’t stray into any territory here that felt forced, which I was grateful for. The concepts of just wanting to be sincerely seen and appreciated, the “danger” of what isn’t always accepted by the world at large that tends to judge before even trying to comprehend things, having to sneak around and avoid exposing such an affair as this, the potential or realized humiliations that can occur, the reality OF perception, all the ways we want to be there for someone, the dichotomy of one person being hesitant about things vs. the other who has nothing but total belief in it working, taking the risk no matter what anyone says, and having to learn through experience what could be BETTER for us beyond what could be seen as just a May-December romance all gets time to shine here, and all with significantly purposeful and meaningful magnitude that enhances the narrative’s course sufficiently.
What I applaud the film for accomplishing is leading us to a third act and finale that I felt leaves you guessing as to precisely how things will wrap up. Whether it will even BE a happy ending, a melancholy one, a combination of both maybe, or something completely expected, it’s executed well enough to believe ANY of these outcomes is feasible AND apropos. Watch and find out, folks! Fordyce, who is the relative “veteran” of the two primary leads here, definitively embodies an older (but not at all old!) woman whose life is currently in a state of emotional upheaval post divorce through her role as Lisa. A successful screenwriter and novelist, it now comes down to her inner sense of self-worth and the need to be adored in an authentic manner draws her into the amorous advances of a much younger man whom has had a crush on her since childhood, as she is his former best friend’s Mom!
Caught up in the whirlwind of passion the two do possess upon choosing to explore what could be, Lisa’s cautious indecisiveness about what real FUTURE their relationship could hold drives the myriad of ups and downs the couple faces. I admired Fordyce’s ability to exude both a playfully alluring charm yet composed sex appeal but also an evident, heartening vulnerability that befits the character’s path with viable energy and credibility. To a different extent, but with no less intentionality, Grant oozes that youthful, enticing, charismatic whimsey, innocent cockiness, and completely relentless approach that so adeptly suits the character he plays here, Carter, a twenty-something in love with the mother of his best childhood friend. From the beginning, Carter is flirtatious and fun, actually trying somewhat to hide what he feels for her….until he then discovers her divorce has been solidified.
Off to the figurative races, Carter woos Lisa with his unavoidable magnetism and persistence that wins her over, at first. But even as her doubts start to really take hold, and the seeming on-again-off-again path being walked is conspicuously present, Carter does all he can do to prove to her that his intentions are pure, beyond JUST physical, and can be long-lasting. How it all ends up is why you need to watch the film, but in the meantime, Grant’s portrayal of a young man utterly and inexorably swept up with the woman of his dreams is honest, real, and simply spot on. The supporting ensemble cast is just excellent here, in my opinion, starting with the ever-awesome Tara Westwood and veteran actor Robert Clohessy as Carter’s parents Lillian and Richard, who, to say the least, have quite the surprise waiting for them when they pay and unannounced visit to their son’s apartment!
Their disconcert, then basic concern, then ultimately supportive demeanor towards Carter and his choice of partners is a palpable and endearing force to be seen, and I loved how both Westwood and Clohessy play off each other and Grant so perfectly well, which only makes the parental relationship depicted more credible. Lukas Hassel is Gregg, a longtime friend of Lisa’s whose re-emerging into her life during this already tumultuous time of confusion and decisions about the future is one thing that causes her to consider someone her own age. I love Hassel’s confidence in attitude that he brings here, as Gregg is so overtly interested in rekindling things with her, yet never comes across as forcing anything or wishing anything BUT the best for her, even if he can’t fully comprehend her association with Carter.
Loring Murtha is Jeff, Lisa’s now ex-husband who, suffice it to say, is JUST a bit of a CAD even as he makes his attempts to try and get back with her and/or to sabotage any happiness she might have outside of him. Acosta is Denny, Carter’s friend whom he hasn’t seen in many a year AND who gets to be the first person to get more than a shock upon finding out who his beloved Mom is seeing, with the subsequent reaction we might anticipate! Kate Brady is Diane, a young woman Carter meets at a local bar and who could potentially become the female equivalent of Gregg for him, someone he can relate to within his own age range. Kim Director is Ally, one of Lisa’s best friends and who is both a voice of reason AND one of encouragement to her friend to “enjoy herself” but perhaps rethink anything remotely long term with Carter.
Ryan DeNicola and Ojobayo Lyons and Brad and Andrew, Carter’s current best friends who are more than getting a kick out of whom he’s trying to shack up with. Randi Sloane, Noelle Diane, and Abigail Hawk are Theresa, Ronnie, and Natalie, three of Lisa’s yoga class friends who assuredly fawn over Carter and might even wish it was one of THEM involved with a “boy toy” like him! Additional appearances are made by Julia Winer, Renatto Cornejo, Joseph Carletto, Jennifer Elyse Feldman, Andrew Casillo, and Jamie Grayce. So, in total, “Wait List: A Love-ish Story” carries itself with a tangible degree of poise, fun, dramatic impact, and life-lesson-infused purpose that does indeed deliver entertainment and some things to contemplate afterwards. We all want to experience that ideal love, and who IS to say that perhaps the chance to have it just might arrive from the last place most people might think, appreciate, or ever believe could manifest?
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
