WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The Millennial Generation. Those young adults with the dubious honor of following up Generation X. The children of the digital age, where social networking and a sense of confidence exudes from many who are within the term’s defined parameters. But what if the entire concept of “follow your dreams” has instead lead to a less than truly fulfilled life? For 20-something Mike Browne (Tom Belding), it might be more of a disillusioned existence while trying to make his way and discover a direction–which really isn’t in itself going very well. Stuck in a thankless barista job, effectively living at his best friend Jared’s (Stephen LeBail) home, smoking weed, getting drunk, and scraping by are his normalcy.
On the heels of a break-up with current girlfriend Sheila (April Green) and unexpected run-in at work with old flame Lindsay (Lisa Chandler), an accident on Mike’s way home one day (from being fired) causes him to (painfully) meet Kara (Lauren Martin), a paralegal with whom he very quickly bonds. Thinking life might begin to show some potential, Mike begins trying to do better in life, though applying for new employment proves less than fruitful and trying to still relate to his family and friends proves even more frustrating. Still on Cloud Nine being involved with Kara, the one bright spot he grasps onto, complications arise due to a visit with Lindsay, and suddenly, everything going right completely falls apart.
Struggling to redeem the minute but positive direction he had going, it becomes apparent life doesn’t always work out the way we want.
Next, my Mind:
Director/producer/editor Darren Borrowman’s micro-budget feature length effort here is actually quite a sobering exercise in the “what if” and “wish I had done that” scenarios wrapped up in its stoner movie/dramedy outer shell. What becomes more apparent as the film unfolds for the viewer is that sneaking suspicion you might actually be seeing certain elements or inner attitudes from your own outlook on life, or perhaps those of someone you know whose found themselves stuck, even if not necessarily via as much pot-smoking or profanity-laced diatribes on the unfairness of it all. And then it is sad to understand that this very much might reflect more of real life for many than any of us would care to admit.
Looking beyond the budget which, just being honest, is a necessity with many independent films (and this is NOT a bad thing, folks), the actors all come across real enough for the characters they have been provided to encompass. Belding’s slacker-trying-to-change Mike is frankly quite relatable on several levels, infusing the indignancy of his blasé attitude with at least attempts at being altruistic through it all, which Belding does effectively bring out. Likewise, Martin’s long-suffering, loving, yet damaged Kara may have more of her life together overall, yet still shows the true hurt of betrayal in her reactions at times to Mike’s apathetic and confused tendencies when things get serious.
A decent supporting cast of characters rounds out the story, the cinematography is smoothly executed, and the film clocks in at a brisk 88 minutes. While the not-so-happy tone and certain levels of content were not totally within this reviewer’s normal preferences, it cannot be denied that even when narratives don’t always end totally happy or how we desire–well–that IS real life, isn’t it?
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading.
